QL 


UC-NRLF 


C    2    773 


FURTHER  RESEARCHES 


NORTH  AMERICAN 


BY 


ALBERT  PITTS  MORSE 

Research  Assistant,  Carnegie  Institution  of  Washington 

Curator  of  Zoological  Museum,   Wellesley  College 
Instructor  in  Zoology,   Teachers'  School  of  Sciences,  Boston 


PUBLISHED  BY  THE 

CARNEGIE  INSTITUTION  OF  WASHINGTON 
1907 


AC  R  I  D  I  I  O/EL 


FRONTISPI  ECE 


TYPICAIy  TETTIGIAN  HABITAT  IN  ROWLANDS  OF  ARKANSAS. 
ASHDOWN,  ARKANSAS. 


FURTHER  RESEARCHES 


NORTH  AMERICAN  ACRIDIID^E 


BY 


ALBERT  PITTS  MORSE 

Research  Assistant,  Carnegie  Institution  of  Washington 

Curator  of  Zoological  Museum,   We  lies  ley  College. 
Instructor  in  Zoology,  Teachers'  School  of  Sciences,  Boston 


PUBLISHED    BY    THE 

CARNEGIE    INSTITUTION    OF    WASHINGTON 
1907 


CARNEGIE  INSTITUTION  OF  WASHINGTON 
PUBLICATION   No.  68. 


PRESS  OF  THE  WILKENS-SHEIRY  PRINTING  CO. 
WASHINGTON,  D.  C. 


FURTHER  RESEARCHES   ON   NORTH  AMERICAN  ACRIDIID^E 


By  ALBERT  PITTS  MORSE, 
Research  Assistant,  Carnegie  Institution  of  Washington. 


INTRODUCTION. 

The  following  report  is  based  upon  data  obtained  during  a  second 
field  trip  of  ten  weeks'  duration  in  the  summer  of  1905  under  the 
auspices  of  the  Carnegie  Institution  of  Washington,  and  forms  a 
partial  field  study  of  the  Acridian  fauna  of  the  central  Southern  States. 
A  large  amount  of  material  and  of  biological  data  and  several  unde- 
scribed  forms  were  secured. 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. 

To  the  Trustees  of  the  Carnegie  Institution  of  Washington  I  wish 
to  express  my  deep  appreciation  of  the  liberality  which  has  enabled 
me  to  conduct  these  investigations.  I  desire  also  to  express  my  in- 
debtedness to  Drs.  B.  L.  Robinson  and  M.  L.  Fernald,  of  the  Gray 
Herbarium,  for  the  determination  of  plant  specimens;  to  Mr.  A.  N. 
Caudell,  of  the  United  States  National  Museum,  for  aid  in  identifying 
material;  to  Mr.  Samuel  Henshaw  for  favors  received  in  connection 
with  the  examination  of  material  in  the  Museum  of  Comparative 
Zoology;  and  to  him  and  Mr.  S.  H.  Scudder  for  their  unfailing 
interest  and  encouragement  in  this  work. 

PURPOSE,  METHODS,  AND  OUTLINE  OF  TRIP. 
PURPOSE;. 

The  purpose  of  the  second  trip,  which  was  undertaken  in  con- 
tinuation of  the  work  of  the  first,  was  primarily,  like  that,  to  secure 
general  information  regarding  the  North  American  locust  fauna  and 
its  ecology  over  a  wide  extent  of  relatively  little-studied  territory. 
Such  information  once  secured  (as  is  now  the  case  for  the  greater  part 
of  the  country),  further  effort  bearing  upon  details  of  taxonomy,  dis- 
tribution, ecology,  and  variation  can  be  more  wisely  directed, 

METHODS. 

The  general  information  needed  can  be  most  effectively  secured 
by  a  rapid  reconnaissance  or  sampling  process,  visiting  as  many  points 
of  widely  varying  physical  condition  in  the  territory  under  examination 

3 


4  FURTHER  RESEARCHES  ON   NORTH  AMERICAN  ACRIDIID^. 

as  may  be  reached  in  the  time  available.  If  possible,  sufficient  time 
should  be  spent  in  each  locality  to  enable  an  examination  to  be  made 
of  each  kind  of  locust  habitat  represented  in  its  vicinity.  This  will 
give  a  good  general  idea  of  the  locust  fauna  of  that  locality  and  may 
usually  be  done  in  from  one  to  three  days  of  field-work,  according  to 
the  weather,  the  character  of  the  locality,  the  number  of  habitats 
represented,  their  accessibility,  etc.  This  method,  however,  is  often 
impracticable  when  it  is  necessary  to  cover  a  large  extent  of  country 
in  a  limited  time. 

OUTTJNE  OF  TRIP. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  season  of  1905  it  was  planned  to  continue 
investigations  by  making  a  general  reconnaissance  similar  to  that  of 
1903,  during  the  summer  vacation,  in  the  next  group  of  States  west  of 
those  examined  in  that  year,  viz,  Tennessee,  Alabama,  Mississippi, 
Louisiana,  and  Arkansas.  Accordingly,  passage  was  taken  July  5 
for  Chattanooga,  via  Washington  and  Cincinnati,  in  order  to  secure 
at  first  hand,  albeit  from  a  car  window,  some  knowledge  of  the  physical 
conditions  with  reference  to  locust  habitats  which  are  found  in  southern 
Ohio,  eastern  Kentucky,  and  Tennessee,  a  region  not  previously 
examined  in  person. 

Collecting  was  begun  on  Sand  Mountain  plateau  in  the  vicinity 
of  Trenton,  Georgia,  a  point  visited  late  in  the  season  of  1903,  in  order 
to  secure  data,  if  possible,  on  those  species  appearing  in  the  adult  stage 
only  early  in  the  season  (see  fig.  i).  Other  stops  were  made  at 
Valley  Head,  Alabama,  to  visit  Lookout  Mountain ;  Anniston,  the 
readiest  point  of  approach  to  Cheaha  Mountain,  the  highest  summit 
in  Alabama,  and  Tuscaloosa.  During  this  portion  of  the  trip  it  was 
learned  that  the  season  was  very  backward,  both  vegetation  and  locusts 
being  late  in  development,  probably  owing  to  the  excessive  amount 
of  cool  and  rainy  weather  of  the  spring  months.  In  consequence  of 
this  fact  I  hastened  southward  to  Gulfport,  Mississippi,  on  the  Gulf 
coast,  stopping  at  Meridian  and  Hattiesburg  en  route.  After  three 
days  spent  there  and  at  near-by  points  the  presence  of  yellow  fever  in 
New  Orleans  was  announced,  and  in  the  hope  of  being  able  to  do  the 
work  planned  for  that  vicinity  and  get  away  before  freedom  of  travel 
was  interfered  with,  should  that  difficulty  arise,  I  went  immediately 
to  New  Orleans  and  spent  one  day  in  the  suburbs  and  another  in  a 
trip  down-rivet  and  back  to  the  marsh  region  at  Buras,  the  present 
terminus  of  the  railroad.  Learning  that  if  I  remained  in  the  city 
longer  there  was  every  likelihood  of  enforced  and  probably  prolonged 
delay,  I  went  west  to  Franklin,  with  the  intention  of  collecting  there 


FURTHER  RESEARCHES  ON   NORTH  AMERICAN  ACRIDIID^.  5 

until  a  health  certificate  enabling  me  to  travel  freely  could  be  secured. 
An  examination  of  the  country  showed  that  owing  to  the  daily  and 
long-continued  torrential  rains  which  characterized  the  early  summer 
in  Louisiana,  Arkansas,  Texas,  and  the  Territories,  effective  collect- 
ing was  impossible  in  consequence  of  the  semi-inundated  condition  of 
the  flat  country. 


FIG.  i.— Sketch  map  showing  route  traversed  during  the  season  of  1905. 

At  this  juncture  I  was  fortunately  able  to  secure  from  an  author- 
itative source  information  of  the  true  magnitude  of  the  fever  situation 
in  Louisiana.  This  was  to  the  effect,  as  everyone  now  knows,  that 
the  fever  had  been  in  the  city  two  months  instead  of  a  few  days,  that 
nearly  100  cases  had  occurred  to  date,  and  that  two  other  points,  and 
probably  more,  besides  New  Orleans,  were  infected.  This  statement 
was  accompanied  with  the  advice  of  one  experienced  in  fever  quaran- 
tines to  "  get  out  of  the  State  as  soon  as  you  can,  if  you.  can."  Under 
the  circumstances,  in  order  to  avoid  prolonged  delay  under  highly 
unfavorable  working  conditions  and  the  waste  of  valuable  time  and 
opportunity,  it  seemed  best  to  act  at  once  upon  this  advice,  which  was 
done  forthwith. 

Texas  and  Mississippi  having  already  declared  a  quarantine  against 
Louisiana,  the  next  day  saw  me  at  work  in  western  Arkansas,  in  which 
section  and  the  eastern  part  of  the  Indian  Territory  I  collected  with 
good  results  while  awaiting  development  of  the  fever  situation.  Find- 
ing that  there  was  no  prospect,  owing  to  quarantine  restrictions,  of 


6  FURTHER  RESEARCHES  ON   NORTH  AMERICAN  ACRIDIID^Ej. 

examining  advantageously  a  large  portion  of  the  affected  States, 
which  I  had  intended  to  study,  a  change  of  the  original  plan  became 
necessary.  I  decided  to  spend  the  remainder  of  the  season  in  a  trip 
through  northern  Texas  as  far  as  the  Staked  Plains,  and  return 
through  Oklahoma  and  the  Indian  Territory,  visiting  the  Wichita 
Mountains  en  route,  and  northwestern  Arkansas,  if  practicable,  at 
the  end  of  the  trip. 

This  course  was  decided  upon  with  the  double  purpose  of  examin- 
ing a  district  whose  locust  fauna  was  relatively  little  known  and  of 
studying  the  biological  conditions  presented  by  the  transition  between 
the  humid  Mississippi  Valley  and  the  Great  Plains,  particularly  with 
reference  to  the  distribution  of  brachypterous  locusts,  a  study  of 
which  during  several  years  in  New  England,  on  the  Pacific  Coast  in 
the  summer  of  1897,  and  in  the  southeastern  States  in  1903  under  the 
auspices  of  the  Carnegie  Institution,  led  to  the  conclusions  in  my 
first  report  (Publication  No.  18,  Carnegie  Institution  of  Washington) 
relative  to  the  significance  of  brachypterism . 

Going  south  to  Denison,  Texas,  this  plan  was  put  in  effect. 
Stops  were  made  at  Bonita,  in  the  western  or  Upper  Cross  Timbers, 
Wichita  Falls,  Clarendon,  and  as  far  west  as  Amarillo,  on  the  L,lano 
Estacado,  in  the  center  of  the  Panhandle.  At  this  point  I  turned 
back,  retracing  my  course  to  Quanah,  thence  northward  through 
southern  Oklahoma,  paying  a  brief  visit  to  Mount  Sheridan,  one  of 
the  two  highest  peaks  of  the  Wichita  Mountains.  From  thence,  after 
a  stop  at  Shawnee  and  another  at  Wilburton  to  examine  an  interest- 
ing bit  of  prairie  meadow  noted  on  the  outgoing  course,  I  returned  to 
western  Arkansas  and  visited  Magazine  Mountain  (whose  summit  is  the 
highest  point  of  land  between  the  Appalachian  and  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains), the  Arkansas  Valley,  and  the  Ozark  uplift  at  Winslow  and 
Fayetteville. 

The  trip  was  carried  out  successfully  as  outlined,  collecting  being 
brought  to  a  close  at  Fayetteville,  Arkansas,  with  the  advent  of  rainy 
weather  in  early  September.  On  the  return  trip  to  Wellesley,  a  day's 
stay  at  Indianapolis  with  Prof.  W.  S.  Blatchley,  State  geologist,  who 
has  made  a  special  study  of  the  Orthoptera  of  that  State,  and  another 
spent  in  a  visit  to  the  collection  of  Orthoptera  at  the  National  Museum, 
in  charge  of  Mr.  A.  N.  Caudell,  proved  most  profitable. 

Over  9,000  Orthoptera,  of  which  the  great  bulk  are  Acridiidse, 
representing  about  120  species,  including  several  undescribed  forms, 
were  secured,  together  with  a  mass  of  data  relating  to  distribution  and 
biology. 


FURTHER  RESEARCHES  ON   NORTH  AMERICAN  ACRIDIID^.  7 

LIFE  ZONES  OF  REGION  EXAMINED. 

The  region  examined  lies  entirely  within  the  Austral  life  zones, 
between  the  parallels  of  29°  20'  and  36°  10'.  The  highest  mountain 
summits  visited — Cheaha  Mountain,  Alabama,  2,400  feet;  Magazine 
Mountain,  Arkansas,  2,800  feet;  Mount  Sheridan,  Oklahoma,  2,500 
feet,  and  the  Great  Plains  at  Amarillo,  Texas,  3,600  feet — do  not 
reach  an  altitude  sufficiently  high  to  provide  boreal  conditions,  but 
show  traces  of  a  Transition  element.  The  Upper  Austral  zone  was 
studied  on  the  highlands  of  northeastern  Alabama,  western  Arkansas, 
the  Wichita  Mountains  of  Oklahoma,  and  at  Amarillo.  The  Gulf  strip 
of  the  Lower  Austral  was  touched  at  three  points  in  southern  Missis- 
sippi and  the  same  number  in  Louisiana. 

Wichita  Falls,  Texas;  Cache,  Oklahoma,  and  localities  west  of 
those  points  lie  in  the  arid  or  Sonoran  division  of  the  Austral  zones. 
This  section  is,  however,  more  strictly  semi-arid  than  arid  in  charac- 
ter, when  compared  with  the  extreme  arid  region  of  southwest  Texas, 
New  Mexico,  Arizona,  etc. 

At  present  it  is  impossible  to  state  with  certainty  which  species 
are  characteristic  of  each  of  these  zones  and  districts. 

HUMID  AND  ARID  FAUNAS,  DISPERSAL,  BRACHYPTERISM. 

Two  of  the  chief  biological  points  upon  which  it  was  desired  to 
secure  information  in  the  region  visited  were  in  reference  to  the  status 
of  brachypterous  species  in  treeless  districts,  and  the  transition  be- 
tween the  faunas  of  the  humid  and  arid  parts  of  the  Austral  zones. 
Based  upon  the  data  secured  on  this  trip,  it  would  appear  that  as  a 
whole  the  biota  of  the  treeless  plains  and  prairies  is  characterized  by 
an  Acridian  fauna  richer  in  number  of  species  than  that  of  the  East, 
and  that  these  are  of  geophilous  and  campestrian  character  in  conso- 
nance with  the  climate  and  the  habitats  represented.  While  differing 
much  in  general  facies  from  that  of  the  Eastern  States  of  the  same 
latitude  in  these  particulars,  the  transition  from  humid  to  arid  con- 
ditions and  fauna  is  gradual  rather  than  abrupt,*  the  borderland  of 
the  two  in  Texas,  Indian  Territory,  and  Oklahoma  being  peopled  by 
numerous  genera  and  species  of  very  wide,  in  some  cases  transconti- 
nental, distribution,  and  also  by  some  of  more  limited  range  restricted 
to  the  district  between  the  Mississippi  River  and  the  Rocky  Mountains, 
but  occurring  both  in  the  humid  and  arid  sections  of  this  region. 

Dispersal  of  the  xerophile,  arid-land  species  is  doubtless  chiefly 
effected  through  the  agency  of  the  winds,  especially  the  strong  south  - 

*  Possibly  this  conclusion  may  need  qualification  after  more  detailed  study. 


FURTHER  RESEARCHES  ON  NORTH  AMERICAN  ACRIDIID.3*. 

erly  summer  winds ;  frequent  tornadoes  (northeast),  and  debris-bearing 
river  floods  (east  and  southeast).  Dispersal  being  thus  amply  pro- 
vided for,  colonization  or  permanent  extension  of  range  is  dependent 
on  the  conditions  (chiefly  chemical  and  physical)  affecting  the  phys- 
iological welfare  of  the  accidental  or  intentional  migrant.* 

Brachypterous  species  are  much  less  numerous  proportionally  in 
the  treeless  arid  districts  than  in  humid,  forested  regions,  Bast  or 
West.  When  present,  they  inhabit  shrubby  or  herbaceous  thickets. 
It  is  a  noteworthy  fact  that  (excluding  the  aberrant  group  Tettiginae) 
every  flightless  species  of  locust  known  from  the  eastern  half  of  the 
continent  is  phytophilous,  as  distinguished  from  geophilous,  in  habits. 

LOCUST   COLORATION. 

In  consideration  of  certain  misapprehensions  as  to  the  biological 
significance  of  the  colors  borne  by  the  Acridiidse,  a  few  general  state- 
ments regarding  the  coloration  of  these  insects  will  not  be  amiss. 

The  Acridiidse  exhibit  both  structural  and  pigmentary  colors. 
An  example  of  structural  color  is  the  iridescence  of  the  wing  mem- 
branes, shown  especially  well  in  the  Tettiginae,  some  Melanopli,  and 
other  species  with  transparent  wings.  All  the  other  colors  are  pig- 
mentary in  character,  at  least  in  part,  and  doubtless  originate  in  the 
life-processes  of  the  body.  Those  of  sympathetic  character — i.  e., 
resembling  the  environment — are  in  many  cases,  e.  g.,  among  desert 
species,  perhaps  originally  physiologically  protective  in  function,  as 
suggested  by  Gadow  for  reptiles;  the  exposed non -sympathetic  colors 
probably  possess  a  biological  significance  varying  with  the  position 
and  use  of  the  organs  on  which  they  are  displayed. 

A  locust  presents  three  classes  of  surface  with  reference  to  colora- 
tion: ist,  the  ventral  part  of  the  body  next  its  supporting  surface — 
earth  or  plant — which  is  shielded  to  a  great  extent  from  external 
influences  such  as  the  action  of  light,  etc.,  and  the  observation  of 
birds  and  other  enemies;  2d,  those  parts  continually  exposed,  day 
and  night,  at  rest  and  in  action,  to  the  influences  above-mentioned, 
comprising  the  dorsal,  lateral,  anterior  and  posterior  surfaces;  3d, 
those  parts  exposed  only  occasionally,  and  usually  for  brief  periods 
only,  during  attack,  courtship,  or  other  exciting  circumstances,  or 
while  in  rapid  motion,  comprising  the  wings,  hind  tibiae,  inner  and 
undersides  of  hind  femora,  and  sides  of  base  of  abdomen. 

*The  presence  or  absence  of  a  given  species  in  a  locality  is  largely  depen- 
dent on  the  character  of  the  habitats  represented.  If  woodland  is  lacking,  sylvan 
species  are  absent;  if  ledges  or  similar  rock  surfaces  are  not  at  hand,  saxicolous 
species  will  not  be  found. 


FURTHER  RESEARCHES  ON   NORTH  AMERICAN  ACRIDIID^.  Q 

The  coloration  of  each  of  these  surfaces  needs  to  be  studied  in 
correlation  with  that  of  the  others  and  with  direct  observations  on  the 
habits  and  distribution  of  the  insects  in  the  field.  That  of  the  first 
class  of  surfaces  has  received  scant  attention,  much  less  than  it 
deserves.  It  is  probably  chiefly  physiological  in  character.  That  of 
the  second  class  is,  with  few  exceptions,  highly  sympathetic,  harmo- 
nizing or  resembling  very  closely,  often  to  a  marvelous  degree,  the 
background  of  the  creature's  environment.  Earth  tints,  rock  and 
sand  textures,  the  infinitely  varied  browns,  greens,  and  grays  of  living 
and  dead  vegetation,  yellow,  orange,  rose,  and  silvery  white  are  all 
represented,  in  spots  and  streaks,  the  effect  being  to  merge  the  insect 
indistinguishably  in  its  background  while  at  rest,  thus  shielding  it  in 
a  very  high  degree  from  the  observation  of  its  foes.  These  colors  are 
of  very  great  protective  value  at  the  present  time,  natural  selection 
continually  acting  to  preserve  and  perfect  them,  but,  though  highly 
protective  in  character,  they  are  without  doubt  primarily  due  to 
physiological  processes  and  influences  as  yet  imperfectly  understood. 

The  colors  of  the  third  class  of  surfaces  are,  on  the  contrary,  in 
many  cases  non-sympathetic  in  character  to  a  high  degree ;  they  are 
often  bright  and  strongly  contrasted,  striking  in  effect  and  at  times 
exceedingly  conspicuous.  This  is  very  generally  the  case  among  the 
North  American  Oedipodinae  and  certain  Acridiinse.  What  is  the 
function,  the  significance  of  these  colors,  in  these  places,  seen  only  in 
flight  or  when  especially  displayed?  Let  us  consider  the  color  of  the 
wings  first. 

Vosseler,  in  his  most  important  work  (Zool.  Jahrb.,  Abh.  f. 
Syst.,  Bd.  16,  17),  misled  by  the  natural-selection  theory,  tries  mis- 
takenly to  apply  it  to  this  kind  of  wing-coloration,  assigning  to  these 
colors  a  protective  value  through  "contrast-mimicry"  by  a  dazzling 
of  the  pursuer  through  their  sudden  appearance  and  disappearance. 
As  a  matter  of  fact,  in  American  species  at  least,  these  colors  are 
usually  exposed  continuously  during  flight. 

This  explanation  is  a  needless  tax  upon  the  imagination.  There 
is  a  much  simpler  one  which  is  almost  forced  upon  the  attention  of 
the  stroller  in  the  fields,  and  which  may  be  readily  observed  by  taking 
a  favorable  position  in  a  station  thickly  populated  with  adult  Trimero- 
tropis,  Arphia,  Spharagemon,  Hippiscus,  Dissosteira,  or  other  similarly 
decorated  Oedipodinse. 

The  flight  of  one  of  these  locusts  attracts  attention  by  its  crepi- 
tating character;  the  conspicuous  wing-colors,  red  or  yellow  and 
black,  in  strong  contrast,  render  its  flight  easy  to  follow,  as  it  is  very 
frequently  followed,  by  others,  which  drop  to  the  ground  in  close 


IO  FURTHER  RESEARCHES  ON   NORTH  AMERICAN   ACRIDIID^. 

proximity  to  it.  There  can  be  no  doubt  in  the  mind  of  one  who  has 
watched  these  actions  repeated  over  and  over  again,  of  the  value  of 
these  colors  as  a  means  of  signaling,  of  attracting  attention,  and 
thereby  effecting  or  maintaining  communication  between  the  sexes  or 
the  individuals  of  a  community. 

The  wing-colors  are  also  frequently  displayed  during  courtship, 
while  the  insect  is  at  rest  upon  the  ground  or  a  suitable  perch,  and 
even  when  attacked  by  enemies.  Such  is  the  case  in  Dictyophorus  and 
Brachystola. 

The  colors  of  the  hind  tibiae  and  inner  sides  of  the  hind  femora, 
though  often  bright,  are  too  limited  in  extent  of  surface  to  be  of  use 
as  a  signal  during  flight.  They  are  entirely  hidden  when  the  insect 
is  at  rest,  but  come  into  view  while  it  is  walking  and  during  the  stridu- 
latory  movements  of  the  hind  legs  which  most  Acridiidae  practice  in 
mating-time.  These  conspicuous  non -sympathetic  colors,  displayed 
only  at  such  times,  thus  seem  to  possess  a  direct  sexual  significance. 

The  wing  and  tibial  colors  differ  much,  not  only  specifically,  but 
also  individually  in  the  same  species,  frequently  varying,  on  the  tibiae, 
from  clear  yellow  to  red,  sometimes  deeply  infuscated,  or  from  red 
through  yellow  and  greenish  to  deep  blue,  on  the  wings  from  pinkish 
red  through  orange  to  yellow  and  yellowish- white. 

Bruner  (Science,  xxi,  133)  noted  an  apparent  relation  between 
the  coloration  of  the  wings  and  the  degree  of  humidity  of  the  climate. 
Morse  (Psyche,  viu,  7)  suggested  that  temperature  should  also  be 
considered  in  this  connection.  Hart  in  a  recent  paper  (Bull.  111.  State 
Lab.  Nat.  Hist.,  vn,  art.  vn,  pp.  214  et  seq.)  has  collected  data  indi- 
cating a  similar  relation  of  the  tibial  colors  to  humidity.  As  stated 
by  Bruner  and  Hart,  a  blue  coloration  of  wings  and  hind  tibiae  seems 
to  be  associated  with  a  certain  degree  of  aridity  of  climate,  a  red 
coloration  with  humidity. 

There  is  reason  to  think,  however,  that  several  factors  are  con- 
cerned in  this  variation  of  color.  Pigmental  in  character,  originating 
in  the  life-processes  of  the  body,  these  colors  are  undoubtedly  sensi- 
tive to  whatever  affects  the  metabolism  of  the  organism,  as  well  as  to 
external  agencies.  Moisture  and  temperature,  it  is  possible,  play  the 
chief  part  as  factors  in  this  color-variation,  but  it  is  quite  likely  that 
altitude  or  atmospheric  pressure,  character  of  food,  and  quality  of 
light  are  concerned  in  these  phenomena,  with  reference  to  the  Acri- 
diidae at  least,  despite  the  negative  results  noted  by  Tower  in  reference 
to  L,eptinotarsa,  a  genus  of  beetles  (Carnegie  Institution  of  Wash- 
ington Publication  No.  48). 


FURTHER  RESEARCHES  ON   NORTH  AMERICAN  ACRIDIID^.  II 

Certainly,  if  there  is  a  tendency  on  the  part  of  the  organism  to 
assume  a  coloration  resembling  that  of  the  environment  apart  from 
natural  selection  through  protection  from  enemies,  then  we  should 
expect  a  variation  in  color  correlated  in  some  way  with  the  character 
of  the  light  rays  in  different  climates,  at  high  altitudes  (cf.  alpine 
flowers),  on  the  seabeach,  in  grassy  fields,  or  sylvan  thickets. 

As  yet,  however,  I  am  forced  to  believe  that  sufficient  data  of 
adequate  weight  have  not  been  accumulated  to  provide  a  satisfactory 
explanation  of  this  color- variation  of  the  wings  and  hind  tibiae.  It  is 
a  matter  with  regard  to  which  evidence  should  be  specially  collected 
by  careful  field  observations,  by  critical  study  of  closely  related  forms 
and  of  climatic  data  from  different  sections  of  the  country,  and  by 
experimentation  if  possible. 

NOTES  ON  COLORATION  AND  VARIATION. 

As  will  be  readily  understood,  the  character  of  the  trip  forbade 
the  payment  of  much  attention  to  problems  of  variation  or  the  acqui- 
sition of  material  in  sufficient  series  for  statistical  study.  The  sub- 
joined notes  are  presented  as  suggestions  for  those  having  opportunity 
to  make  observations  on  this  topic  in  connection  with  the  species 
involved  and  as  a  basis  for  future  work. 

Excellent  examples  of  coloration  agreeing  with  that  of  the  envi- 
ronmental background  are  presented  by  Hypochlora  alba  and  Trimero- 
tropis  saxatilis  (pi.  i). 

The  habitat  of  the  former  is  upon  several  species  of  sage  {Artem- 
isia} pale  greenish- white  in  color,  and  the  locusts  inhabiting  it,  young 
and  old,  are  of  the  same  tint.  The  photograph  shows  the  striking 
contrast  with  customary  hues  exhibited  by  these  plants. 

In  the  latter  species  specimens  from  the  same  station  vary  widely 
from  light  to  dark  in  agreement  with  the  hues  of  the  lichened  rock- 
surfaces  frequented.  Variations  of  ground-color  also  occur  geographi- 
cally, examples  from  the  Wichita  Mountains  exhibiting  a  flesh -col  or 
like  that  of  the  ruddy,  weather-beaten  granite  on  which  they  live.  It 
seems  highly  probable  that  this  relatively  sluggish,  unwary  species 
(see  p.  40)  has  escaped  destruction  only  by  reason  of  its  highly  devel- 
oped protective  coloration.  Existing,  as  it  now  does,  only  in  isolated 
colonies,  in  habitats  of  highly  special  character,  which  continually  di- 
minish in  area  through  various  physical  and  organic  agencies,  it  is  not 
unlikely  that  in  the  comparatively  early  future  it  will  become  extinct. 

Noticeable  color- variations,  as  yet  unexplained,  are  also  presented 
by  the  specimens  of  Melanoplus  fasdatus  and  M.  bivittatus  femoratus 
(see  p.  47)  secured  in  Alabama,  as  compared  with  northern  examples. 


12  FURTHER  RESEARCHES  ON   NORTH  AMERICAN  ACRIDIID^. 

As  nearly  as  may  be  judged  from  the  limited  material  at  hand, 
several  so-called  species  of  Trachyrhachis  founded  largely  upon  color- 
characters  (thomasi,  fuscifrons,  obliterata,  kiowd)  are  to  be  regarded 
simply  as  geographical  varieties  or  races  of  a  widely  spread  species 
varying  with  the  climatic  environment.  Thus,  T.  thomasi,  the  form 
inhabiting  the  more  eastern  and  humid  section  of  its  range  (Georgia, 
Tennessee,  Illinois,  Arkansas,  Indian  Territory),  possesses  wings  with 
a  complete,  rather  broad,  transverse  fuscous  band  and  lemon-yellow 
disk;  fuscifrons,  from  more  western  and  less  humid  localities  in  Texas 
and  Oklahoma,  exhibits  a  narrower,  usually  broken  wing-band  and 
yellow  disk,  the  latter  sometimes  nearly  hyaline;  in  obliterata  the 
wing-band  is  reduced  to  faint  cloudings  in  the  radial  and  posterior 
parts  of  its  course  or  is  frequently  lacking  (this  form  is  found  in  the 
semi-arid  parts  of  central  and  western  Texas  and  Oklahoma);  kiowa, 
lacking  the  wing-band  entirely  and  with  hyaline  disk,  is  the  charac- 
teristic form  at  Amarillo  on  the  Staked  Plains.  We  apparently  have 
in  this  instance  another  case  of  increased  development  of  pigment 
correlated  with  humid  conditions.  Further  observations  should  be 
made  on  material  in  large  series.  (See  also  p.  37.) 

Variation  in  color  and  structure  geographically  along  the  lines  of 
probable  dispersal  and  descent  is  exhibited  by  Hesperotettix  pratensis. 
Examples  of  this  species  from  Magazine  Mountain,  Arkansas,  are 
shorter-winged  than  plains  specimens  and  exhibit  almost  exactly  the 
type  of  coloration  shown  by  H.  brevipennis.  The  specimens  of  the 
latter  species  from  Georgia  and  Alabama  approach  in  size,  wing- 
length,  and  color  the  Arkansas  examples  of  pratensis.  It  is  probable 
that  complete  intergradation  will  be  found  to  exist,  and  that  H.  brevi- 
pennis is  the  eastern  representative  of  pratensis,  directly  descended  and 
not  specifically  distinct  from  that  species.  The  Florida  examples  of 
H.  pratensis  secured  in  1903,  on  the  other  hand,  present  a  distinctly 
different  type  of  coloration — one  seen  in  some  Californian  series  of 
the  species.  They  are  also  of  small  size  like  them,  but  differ  in  having 
much  longer  tegmina  and  wings.  H.  pratensis,  as  it  stands  to-day, 
should  be  regarded  as  a  variable  and  complex  species  represented  in 
different  parts  of  the  country  by  several  more  or  less  distinct  varieties. 

The  same  phase  of  variation  (along  the  line  of  dispersal  and 
descent)  is  probably  the  explanation  of  the  striking  difference  shown 
in  examples  of  Trimerotropis  saxatilis  from  Stone  Mountain,  Georgia, 
and  Mount  Sheridan,  Oklahoma.  But  for  the  intergrades  from 
Arkansas  and  identity  of  habits  these  two  forms  would  be  regarded  as 
specifically  distinct  on  the  basis  of  structural  characters.  In  this 
case  Trimerotropis  vinculata,  very  widely  distributed  in  the  far  west, 
is  probably  the  parent  species. 


FURTHER  RESEARCHES  ON   NORTH  AMERICAN  ACRIDIID^.  13 

HABITS,  HABITATS,  AND  LOCAL  LISTS. 

As  has  been  stated,  the  work  of  collecting  began  in  northwest 
Georgia,  at  a  point  visited  toward  the  end  of  the  first  trip,  in  the  hope 
of  securing  early-maturing  species  not  procurable  at  that  time,  partic- 
ular attention  being  paid  to  the  fauna  of  the  Sand  Mountain  plateau, 
at  an  elevation  of  i  ,500  feet.  Here  the  following  species  were  secured 
in  the  adult  state : 

Nomotettix  cristatus.  Dissosteira  Carolina. 

Neotettix  femoratus.  Spharagemon  bolli. 

Tettix  arenosus.  Trimerotropis  saxatilis. 

Tettigidea   lateralis.  Hesperotettix    brevipennis. 

Syrbula  admirabilis.  Melanoplus  atlanis. 

Eritettix  carinatus.  Melanoplus  bivittatus  femoratus. 

Orphulella  pelidna.  Melanoplus  impudicus. 

Arphia    sulphurea.  Melanoplus   strumosus. 
Hippiscus   phoenicopterus. 

Of  these  the  only  ones  calling  for  particular  mention  are  Melano- 
plus strumosus ,  discovered  in  Florida  on  the  first  trip,  whose  presence 
so  far  north  was  unexpected;  and  Trimerotropis  saxatilis,  notes  on 
whose  habits  will  be  found  in  the  accompanying  list  of  species  (page 
39;  pi.  i,  fig.  2).  At  Trenton,  on  the  floor  of  Lookout  Valley,  at  an 
elevation  of  about  735  feet,  Schistocerca  americana,  Trimerotropis 
citrina,  and  the  young  of  Hippiscus  rugosus  were  also  secured.  Here 
also,  thanks  to  information  received  from  Mr.  J.  T.  Woolbright,  an 
observing  resident,  a  colony  of  Dictyophorus  reticulatus,  the  great 
southern  "lubber  grasshopper,"  was  located  far  to  the  north  of  its 
supposed  range.  Other  species,  at  this  time  in  the  young  stages, 
taken  at  this  point  on  the  first  trip,  are  Amblytropidia  occidentalis , 
Arphia  xanthoptera,  Chortophaga  mridifasciata,  Trachyrhachis  thomasi, 
Melanoplus  femur-rubrum ,  and  M.  luridus.  The  following  species  in 
addition  undoubtedly  occur  in  the  vicinity  :  Tettix  ornatus,  Paratettix 
cucullatus,  Dichromorpha  viridis,  Schistocerca  alutacea  and  rubiginosa, 
Melanoplus  scudderi,  and  probably  several  other  short-winged  species 
of  this  genus.  These  species  may  be  regarded  as  a  fair  sample  of  the 
locusts  most  likely  to  be  secured  in  northern  Alabama  in  July. 

Of  these,  Trimerotropis  saxatilis  is  a  purely  saxicolous  species 
restricted  to  bare  rock  surfaces.  Dissosteira  Carolina  and  Trimerotropis 
citrina  are  to  be  found  on  roads  and  spots  of  bare  soil;  Trachyrhachis 
thomasi2\$Q  frequents  bare  soil  and  sparsely  grassed  fields,  but  is  much 
less  common  and  very  local.  Amblytropidia  occidentalis ,  Syrbula  ad- 
mirabilis, Chortophaga  viridifasciata ,  and  the  species  of  Arphia  and 


14  FURTHER  RESEARCHES  ON   NORTH   AMERICAN   ACRIDIID^. 

Hippiscus  occur  in  old  fields  and  pastures  on  dry  soil,  where  the  grass 
is  tall  and  interspersed  with  bushes.  Several  of  these,  together  with 
Spharagemon  bolli,  Melanoplus  impudicus  and  luridus,  live  in  the  open 
forest,  generally  near  grassy  places.  Schistocerca  americana  is  almost 
ubiquitous,  among  vegetation  of  all  sorts.  Melanoplus  atlanis  prefers 
dry,  grassy  fields ;  M.  femoratus  moist  runs,  the  banks  of  streams,  etc. ; 
M.  femur-rubrum  damp,  grassy  fields;  and  M.  strumosus  the  under- 
growth of  woods.  Hesperotettix  brevipennis  has  been  taken  only  on 
bunch-grass  (Andropogon),  either  in  fields  or  openings  in  the  forest. 
The  Tettiginae,  with  the  exception  of  Tettigidea  lateralis  from  moist, 
sedgy  runs,  prefer  somewhat  exposed  but  rather  moist  soil  of  sandy 
loam  or  the  banks  and  beds  of  streams. 

From  Valley  Head,  Alabama,  the  next  stopping-place,  the  sum- 
mit of  Lookout  Mountain  was  paid  a  brief  visit,  for  the  purpose  of 
comparison.  At  the  point  reached,  the  locust  fauna  was  very  similar 
to  that  on  Sand  Mountain,  but  perhaps  less  numerous  in  species  and 
individuals. 

Anniston,  in  the  east-central  part  of  the  State,  was  chosen  as  the 
most  convenient  point  of  approach  to  Cheaha  Mountain,  the  highest 
summit  in  Alabama.  Immediately  about  Anniston  the  collecting  was 
decidedly  and  inexplicably  poor,  both  in  species  and  individuals. 
Twenty  miles  south,  at  Turnipseed's  ranch  near  the  foot  of  Cheaha, 
a  rich  collecting  spot  was  found,  but  only  a  very  limited  stay  could  be 
made  there.  Several  hours  were  spent  on  the  summit  of  Cheaha 
(2,000  to  2,400  feet)  between  Pulpit  Rock  and  the  top,  and  important 
results  were  secured. 

The  summit  crest  is  covered  with  an  open,  stunted,  fire-scarred 
forest  of  oak  and  other  deciduous  trees,  xerophytic  in  character,  with 
scattered  boulders  and  occasional  outcrops,  a  rank  growth  of  bunch- 
grass,  and  occasional  shrubby  patches.  While  not  of  sufficient  eleva- 
tion to  reach  a  distinctly  boreal  zone,  and  too  limited  in  area  to  greatly 
modify  the  temperature  of  the  air  passing  over  it,  here  was  found  a 
most  interesting  aggregate  of  species,  as  follows : 

Mermiria  bivittata.  Hesperotettix  brevipennis. 

Orphulella  pelidna.  Melanoplus  impudicus. 

Orphulella  speciosa.  Melanoplus  viola. 

Arphia  sulphurea.  Melanoplus  fasciatus. 

Hippiscus  phoenicopterus.  Melanoplus  bivittatus  femoratus. 

Dissosteira  Carolina.  Melanoplus  tribuloides  (new  species). 

Spharagemon   bolli.  Podisma  australis   (new  species). 
Schistocerca  alutacea. 


FURTHER  RESEARCHES  ON   NORTH  AMERICAN  ACRIDIID.^.  1 5 

Most  of  these  call  for  no  particular  remark,  but  Orphulella  speciosa, 
Melanoplus  bivittatus  femoratus,  and  M.  fasciatus  are  Transition  and 
slightly  boreal  in  character,  and  in  this  region  are  to  be  regarded  as 
glacial  relicts.  Of  the  two  new  species,  M.  tribuloides  is  a  near  relative 
of  a  species  found  at  a  slightly  greater  elevation  on  the  neighboring 
mountains  of  Georgia ;  the  other  is  a  new  and  wholly  unexpected 
species  of  Podisma,  bearing  tegmina  of  considerable  size,  and  resem- 
bling Dendrotettix  in  some  characters. 

At  Tuscaloosa,  the  next  point  visited,  in  the  western  part  of  the 
State,  nothing  of  importance  was  found  to  call  for  special  remark. 
At  all  points  thus  far  examined,  the  young  of  many  species  far  outnum- 
bered the  adults,  owing,  probably,  to  the  late  season.  Consequently, 
as  I  expected  to  visit  the  northern  part  of  the  State  late  in  the  sum- 
mer, I  hastened  southward.  At  Meridian,  Mississippi,  a  new  short- 
winged  Melanoplus  allied  to  obovatipennis  (common  in  Indiana  and 
Arkansas),  doubtless  its  southern  representative,  but  presenting  con- 
siderable difference  in  color  and  structure,  was  secured.  At  Hatties- 
burg,  Melanoplus  viola  was  taken  in  some  numbers,  and  a  single  pair 
of  M.  morsei,  greatly  extending  the  known  range  of  this  species  from 
Indiana  southward. 

Gulfport,  on  the  coast,  served  as  a  center  for  an  examination  of 
the  Coast  strip,  collections  being  made  in  the  town,  eastward  at 
Biloxi,  and  inland  as  far  as  Nugent.  A  list  of  actual  captures  of  the 
species  here  follows,  though  several  others  might  be  cited  as  inhabitants 
in  addition : 

Neotettix  femoratus.  Hippiscus    phoenicopterus. 

Paratettix  cucullatus.  Hippiscus  rugosus. 

Tettigidea  lateralis.  Scirtetica  picta. 

Mermiria  bivittata.  Psinidia  fenestralis. 

Syrbula  admirabilis.  Trimerotropis  citrina. 

Amblytropidia    occidentalis.  Leptysma   marginicollis. 

Orphulella  pelidna.  Schistocerca  alutacea. 

Orphulella  olivacea.  Schistocerca  americana. 

Clinocephalus   elegans.  Melanoplus  propinquus. 

Arphia  xanthoptera.  Paroxya  atlantica. 

Chortophaga  viridifasciata.  Paroxya  floridiana. 

Of  these  species,  Orphulella  olivacea,  Clinocephalus  elegans,  Sdr- 
tetica  picta,  Melanoplus  propinquus,  and  Paroxya  atlantica  are  charac- 
teristic of  the  coast  region,  O.  olivacea  being  restricted  to  salt-marshes, 
the  others  extending  inland  for  some  distance.  Scirtetica  picta,  Trime- 
rotropis citrina,  and  Psinidia  fenestralis  are  usually  found  on  the  sands 
of  the  upper  beach  and  in  sandy  spots  near  it.  Paroxya  floridiana 


l6  FURTHER  RESEARCHES  ON   NORTH   AMERICAN   ACRIDIID.^. 

occurred  with  Orphulella  olivacea  in  the  speargrass  of  the  marshes. 
Paroxya  atlantica  occurs  in  the  marshes  also,  but  was  more  common 
locally  in  the  pine  woods,  in  moist  grassy  spots  among  the  "ink- 
berry"  or  myrtle  bushes  (Ilex  glabra).  (PL  2,  fig.  2.) 

The  piney  woods  present  two  general  types  of  habitat,  wet  and 
dry,  but  owing  to  the  low  relief  of  the  face  of  the  country  a  very  mixed 
condition  occurs,  xerophile  and  hygrophile  species  seemingly  all  jum- 
bled together.  In  low  spots,  swampy  places  and  along  streams,  may 
be  found  Leptysma  marginicollis •,  Jryxalis  brevicornis,  and  Clinocephalus 
elegans.  On  the  drier,  sandy,  more  open  spots  will  be  met  Arphia, 
Hippiscus,  Neotettix,  Orphulella,  and  Psinidia.  Mermiria  bivittata  is 
found  only  among  coarse  grasses,  in  either  wet  or  dry  situations.  (PL 
2,  fig.  i). 

As  has  been  stated  in  the  outline  of  the  trip,  collecting  in  Louisi- 
ana was  perforce  abbreviated  by  the  imminence  of  interference  with 
travel  owing  to  the  outbreak  of  yellow  fever. 

In  the  vicinity  of  New  Orleans  a  brief  time  was  spent  in  the  field 
between  showers  at  Milneburg,  on  the  edge  of  the  swamp.  Here 
Dictyophorus  reticulatus  was  found  in  numbers,  and  a  single  very  large 
example  of  Paroxya  hoosieri,  not  previously  known  from  south  of 
Indiana.  A  trip  60  miles  down-river  and  back  to  Buras,  in  the  marsh 
region,  occupied  one  day.  The  two  species  most  in  evidence  at  this 
point  were  Chortophaga  mridifasdata ,  numerous  on  the  higher  ground 
near  the  levee,  and  Orphulella  olivacea,  widely  and  generally  spread 
in  the  marshes  in  company  with  Orckelimum  herbaceum.  At  Franklin, 
owing  to  the  flooded  condition  of  the  country,  it  was  impossible  to 
collect  to  advantage  except  along  the  railway  embankment,  and  but 
half  a  dozen  species  were  secured.  At  this  point  the  eastern  and 
southern  part  of  the  trip  closed. 

Arkansas  was  visited  in  its  western  part  only,  between  the  dates 
July  26  to  August  3  and  August  28  to  September  5.  The  earlier  period 
was  spent  in  the  southwestern  part  of  the  State — at  Ashdown,  in  the 
lowlands;  DeQueen,  in  rolling  country;  Mena,  Eagleton,  and  Rich 
Mountain  Station  at  the  foot  of  Rich  Mountain  ;  and  on  the  summit 
of  Rich  Mountain,  at  an  elevation  of  2,600  feet.  At  this  earlier  period 
many  species  were  still  immature  in  the  mountain  region .  During 
the  latter  period  collections  were  gathered  at  Blue  Mountain  Station 
and  the  summit  of  Magazine  Mountain,  Ola,  Dardanelle,  and  Van 
Buren,  in  the  Arkansas  River  Valley;  Winslow,  high  up  on  the  Ozark 
uplift ;  and  Fayetteville,  in  the  hill  country  of  the  extreme  northwest. 


FURTHER  RESEARCHES  ON   NORTH  AMERICAN  ACRIDIIDJ£.  \J 

At  Ashdown,  in  the  lowlands  of  the  southwest  corner  of  the  State, 
the  following  species  were  secured  in  the  adult  stage  : 

Neotettix   femoratus.  Arphia  xanthoptera. 

Tettix  arenosus.  Chortophaga   viridifasciata. 

Paratettix   cucullatus.  Hippiscus   rugosus. 

Tettigidea  lateralis.  Spharagemon  bolli. 

Syrbula  admirabilis.  Trimerotropis   citrina. 

Orphulella   picturata.  Schistocerca  obscura. 

Orphulella  pelidna.  Melanoplus  bispinosus. 

Dichromorpha  viridis.  Paroxya  sp. 

All  of  these  are  found  east  of  the  Mississippi  River  except  two — 
Orphulella  picturata  and  Melanoplus  bispinosus — which  are  trans- 
Mississippian  in  distribution,  common  on  the  prairies  from  central  or 
western  Arkansas  to  Oklahoma.  In  the  lowlands  of  Arkansas,  as  has 
been  noted  in  reference  to  other  regions  of  low  relief  in  the  south- 
eastern States,  typical  xerophile  and  hygrophile  locusts  occur  in 
many  places  side  by  side  in  consequence  of  the  topographical  con- 
figuration. No  particular  features  of  locust  distribution  or  habitat 
at  Ashdown  call  for  special  remark,  save  the  exceeding  abundance 
of  Tettiginae,  the  continually  moist  sandy  loam  of  the  locality  seeming 
especially  favorable  to  the  development  of  great  numbers  of  this  group 
of  locusts  (see  frontispiece). 

The  fields  of  a  great  part  of  Arkansas  are  carpeted  with  the  creep- 
ing, purple-flowered  Japanese  clover  (Lespedeza  striata),  or,  in  the  more 
open  stretches,  are  covered  in  late  summer  with  a  dense  growth  of  the 
fine-leaved  sneeze-weed  (Helenium  tenuifolium)  and  yellow  with  its 
brilliant  blossoms.  While  a  few  species  of  locusts  (Dichromorpha 
viridis,  Chortophaga,  Orphulella)  are  found  more  or  less  commonly 
in  this  habitat,  it  is  as  a  whole  less  productive  than  grassy  nooks 
and  corners,  or  fields  partly  bare  and  partly  grown  up  to  taller  weeds 
and  bushes,  in  short,  presenting  a  greater  variety  of  environment. 

The  mountains  of  Arkansas  form  two  groups — the  Ouachita  ranges 
south  of  the  Arkansas  River  and  the  Ozark  plateau  north  of  it.  The 
Ouachita  Mountains  consist  chiefly  of  several  irregular  but  often  east- 
and-west  extending  ranges,  which  for  the  most  part  still  retain  their 
forest  covering.  The  southern  slopes,  owing  to  greater  insolation,  are 
very  hot  and  dry,  the  forest  is  xerophytic  in  character  and  quite  open 
(pi.  3,  fig.  2).  Characteristic  of  this  habitat  are  Spharagemon  bolli, 
Melanoplus  obovatipennis ,  scudderi,  keeleri,  robustus,  Boopedon  auriven- 
tris,  and  Paratylotropidia  brunneri.  The  first  five  of  these  are  common 
and  widely  distributed,  the  latter  two  are  local  and  scarce. 


l8  FURTHER  RESEARCHES  ON   NORTH  AMERICAN  ACRIDIID.£. 

The  north  side  of  these  ranges  is  much  moister,  more  densely 
shaded,  its  plant  covering  more  boreal,  and  altogether  presents  a  very 
different  environment  from  the  southern  side.  At  a  station  of  this 
character  on  the  north  side  of  Magazine  Mountain,  almost  in  the 
shadow  of  the  summit  escarpment,  in  an  herbaceous  thicket  composed 
largely  of  Urtica  gradlis,  Polygonum  virginianum,  Amphicarpoea 
monoica,  Eupatorium  ageratoides  and  Solidago  sp.  was  found  Melanoplus 
gradlis,  whose  delicate  olive  coloration  exactly  matched  the  back- 
ground of  its  haunts,  so  widely  at  variance  with  that  of  the  opposite 
side  of  the  mountain  summit.  Continued  search  in  other  localities  of 
this  character  would  probably  reveal  additional  species  characteristic 
of  this  type  of  habitat. 

The  higher  summits  of  the  mountains  rise  to  an  elevation  of  but 
2,400  to  2,600  feet,  Magazine  or  Blue  Mountain  reaching  2,800  at  one 
point  and  being  the  highest  point  of  land  between  the  Appalachian 
and  the  Rocky  Mountains.  This  elevation  is  not  sufficient  to  provide 
true  boreal  conditions,  but  does  modify  the  temperature  so  that  cer- 
tain species,  abundant  at  the  north,  and  forced  southward  during  the 
glacial  epoch,  have  been  enabled  to  exist  in  this  latitude  till  the 
present  time.  Such  are  Tettix  hancocki,  Chloealtis  conspersa,  and  Mela- 
noplusfasciatus  (=  baconi  of  McNeill). 

The  two  summits  of  the  Ouachitas  visited,  Rich  Mountain  and 
Magazine  Mountain,  differ  very  noticeably  in  the  relative  abundance 
of  the  two  common  campestrian  species  Melanoplus  atlanis  andfemur- 
rubrum,  which  are  plentiful  on  the  first,  scarce  on  the  second.  This 
difference  is  no  doubt  due  primarily  to  the  fact  that  the  summit  of 
Rich  Mountain  was  for  many  years  the  site  of  prosperous  farms,  now 
abandoned  and  rapidly  reverting  to  original  conditions  (pi.  3,  fig.  i). 
The  summit  of  Magazine  Mountain,  on  the  other  hand,  has  been  much 
less  disturbed  by  cultivation,  and  the  forest  covers  a  great  part  of  it. 
The  flat  top  of  this  mountain  is  bounded  by  an  almost  continuous 
escarpment,  the  rock  being  commonly  exposed  at  the  level  margin 
and  forming  an  ideal  habitat  for  Trimerotropis  saxatilis  (pi.  4,  fig.  i). 
At  the  extreme  west  end  of  the  summit,  where  the  roadway  climbs  it, 
and  where  a  small  area  has  been  recently  cleared  of  trees,  an  inter- 
esting assemblage  of  species  was  found  among  the  golden-rod,  blue- 
berries, grass,  and  shrubby  sprouts  that  have  sprung  up  (pi.  4,  fig.  2). 
Here  were  taken  Trimerotropis  saxatilis,  Hesperotettix  pratensis,  Bo'op- 
edon  auriventris,  Paratylotropidia  brunneri,  Melanoplus  scudderi,  M. 
obovatipennis ,  Hippiscus  phoenicopterus ,  Spharagemon  bolli,  Schistocerca 
rubiginosa,  Orphulella  pelidna,  and  several  others,  some  of  them  in 
numbers. 


FURTHER  RESEARCHES  ON  NORTH  AMERICAN  ACRIDIID.^.  IQ 

The  explanation  of  this  assemblage  probably  involves  several 
factors:  primarily,  variety  of  habitat  represented — rock,  bare  soil  of 
sandy  road,  grass,  shrubby  undergrowth  ;  secondarily,  aggregation  of 
individuals  at  a  topographical  "  jumping-off  place,"  a  phenomenon 
akin  to  the  assembling  of  many  other  insects  at  the  extreme  apex  of  a 
high  hill  or  mountain  summit,  which  has  been  repeatedly  observed. 

Besides  the  two  prairie  species  previously  mentioned  as  captured 
at  Ashdown,  several  others  occur  in  at  least  the  western  part  of  the 
State.  Among  these  are  Orphulella  decora,  Campy lacantha  olivacea 
and  its  color- variety  acutipennis,  and  Melanoplus  foedus.  Orphulella 
decora  lives  in  grassy  fields,  by  preference  of  moister  character  than 
those  inhabited  by  picturata ;  Campy  lacantha  olivacea,  a  short- winged 
species,  is  locally  common  in  herbaceous  thickets  of  various  kinds, 
but  commonly  of  some  species  of  ragweed  {Ambrosia  bidentata  et  al.). 
The  following  list  of  species  captured  in  western  Arkansas  is  here 
brought  together  for  convenience  of  reference ;  several  others  occur 
and  would  be  secured  by  a  longer  search  and  at  other  seasons  of  the 
year : 

Nomotettix  cristatus.  Trachyrhachis  thomasi. 

Neotettix  femoratus.  Trimerotropis  citrina. 

Tettix  arenosus.  Trimerotropis    saxatilis. 

Tettix  hancocki.  Schistocerca  alutacea. 

Paratettix  cucullatus.  Schistocerca   americana. 

Tettigidea   armata.  Schistocerca  obscura. 

Tettigidea   lateralis.  Schistocerca  rubiginosa. 

Tettigidea   lateralis   polymorpha.  Campylacantha   olivacea. 

Syrbula  admirabilis.  Hesperotettix  pratensis. 

Amblytropidia  occidentalis.  Paratylotropidia    brunneri. 

Orphulella   decora.  Melanoplus  atlanis. 

Orphulella   pelidna.  Melanoplus  bispinosus. 

Orphulella  picturata.  Melanoplus  differentialis. 

Dichromorpha  viridis.  Melanoplus    femur-rubrum. 

Chloealtis  conspersa.  Melanoplus   foedus. 

Boopedon   auriventris.  Melanoplus  gracilis. 

Arphia  sulphurea.  Melanoplus   impudicus. 

Arphia  xanthoptera.  Melanoplus  keeleri. 

Chortophaga  viridifasciata.  Melanoplus   latens. 

Hippiscus  phoenicopterus.  Melanoplus  obovatipennis. 

Hippiscus   rugosus.  Melanoplus   robustus. 

Dissosteira   Carolina.  Melanoplus  scudderi. 

Spharagemon  bolli.  Paroxya  sp. 

Collecting  in  Indian  Territory  was  begun  on  August  4  at  Howe, 
in  the  eastern  part,  and  continued  until  August  9  ;  on  the  return  from 
Oklahoma,  a  half  day  was  spent  at  Wilburton  on  the  2yth  in  examina- 
tion of  a  small  prairie  meadow  at  that  place. 


20  FURTHER  RESEARCHES  ON   NORTH  AMERICAN  ACRIDIID^. 

The  eastern  part  of  the  Territory  and  northeast  Texas  are  similar 
in  topography,  habitats,  and  fauna  to  western  Arkansas,  and  the  same 
species  are  met  with  under  the  same  conditions.  As  one  proceeds 
west  from  Arkansas  through  the  Territory  and  Oklahoma,  or  through 
Texas,  a  decrease  takes  place  in  the  number  of  eastern,  hygrophilous 
and  sylvan  species  met  with,  and  at  the  same  time  a  much  greater 
increase  occurs  in  the  number  of  species  characteristic  of  the  prairies 
and  plains,  xerophile  and  campestrian  in  habits  and  Sonoran  in  affini- 
ties. This  may  be  seen  at  Caddo  and  Denison  by  comparison  of  the 
fauna  of  the  wooded  strips  and  of  the  prairies  near  these  localities. 

Among  the  earliest  species  to  diminish  in  number  and  disappear 
are  Dichromorpha  viridis,  Orphulella  pelidna,  Spharagemon  bolli,  Mela- 
noplus  robustus  and  keeleri.  Among  those  that  appear  earliest  in  travel- 
ing westward  in  addition  to  those  already  mentioned  as  occurring  in 
Arkansas  are  Phoetaliotes  nebrascensis  and  Melanoplus  plebejus  in  moist, 
grassy  field-thickets ;  Arphia  luteola  and  simplex,  and  Encoptolophus 
patvus  in  drier  fields  ;  Ageneotettix  deorum  and  Hadrotettix  trifasciatus 
on  bare,  stony,  or  sandy  areas;  Hypochlora  alba  occurs  locally  on  white 
sage  (Artemisia  spp. ;  pi.  i,  fig.  i) ;  Opeia  obscura  lurks  in  the  dense 
cover  of  the  mesquite  grass,  together  with  increasing  numbers  of 
Trachyrhachis  fuscifrons  and  Orphulella  picturata ;  Mermiria  neo- 
mexicana  appears  and  with  bivittatus  inhabits  the  taller  bunch-grasses 
{Andropogon,  Chr^sopogon,  etc.).  Especially  characteristic  of  loose 
sand,  such  as  occurs  at  Bonita,  in  the  Upper  Cross  Timbers,  and 
locally  everywhere,  are  Spharagemon  cristatum  and  Psinidia  fenestralis. 

The  locust  fauna  of  the  dry  prairies  and  lower  plains,  the  ' '  prairie- 
plains  ' '  or  semi-arid  portion  of  the  Texas  region ,  was  studied  at 
Wichita  Falls,  Quanah,  and  Clarendon,  Texas,  and  Mountain  Park 
and  Cache,  Oklahoma.  The  list  of  species  taken  at  these  localities 
between  August  15  and  25  is  as  follows: 

Paratettix  cucullatus.  Boopedon    nubilum. 

Mermiria  bivittata.  Arphia  xanthoptera. 

Mermiria    neo-mexicana.  Arphia  nietana. 

Syrbula  admirabilis.  Arphia  luteola. 

Eritettix    sp.  Chortophaga  viridifasciata. 

Opeia    obscura.  Encoptolophus   costalis. 

Amphitornus  bicolor.  Encoptolophus  parvus. 

Phlibostroma     quadrimaculatum.  Hippiscus  corallipes. 

Orphulella   decora.  Hippiscus  immaculatus. 

Orphulella  picturata.  Hippiscus  rugosus. 

Ageneotettix  deorum.  Hippiscus  saussurei. 

Aulocara    elliotti.  Leprus  wheeleri. 

Aulocara   femoratum.  Dissosteira    Carolina. 


FURTHER  RESEARCHES  ON   NORTH  AMERICAN  ACRIDIID^E.  21 

Dissosteira    longipennis.  Hesperotettix  viridis. 

Spharagemon    aequale.  Aeoloplus    regalis. 

Spharagemon   cristatum.  Melanoplus  atlanis. 

Trachyrhachis  fuscifrons.  Melanoplus  bispinosus. 

Psinidia    fenestralis.  Melanoplus  bivittatus. 

Hadrotettix    trifasciatus.  Melanoplus   differentialis. 

Trimerotropis    citrina.  Melanoplus  femur-rubrum. 

Trimerotropis  latifasciata.  Melanoplus  foedus. 

Trimerotropis  saxatilis.  Melanoplus  keeleri. 

Trimerotropis   vinculata.  Melanoplus  glaucipes. 

Trimerotropis   bruneri.  Melanoplus    flavidus. 

Brachystola  magna.  Melanoplus  impiger. 

Schistocerca  albolineata.  Melanoplus  packardii. 

Schistocerca  americana.  Melanoplus  palmeri. 

Schistocerca   lineata.  Melanoplus  plebejus. 

Schistocerca    obscura.  Melanoplus   regalis. 

Hypochlora   alba.  Melanoplus  tuberculatus. 

Campylacantha  olivacea.  Phoetaliotes  nebrascensis. 

Hesperotettix  speciosus.  Dactylotum  pictum. 

The  high  plains,  Staked  Plains,  or,  in  Texan  phraseology  simply 
"  the  Plains,"  were  touched  at  but  one  point,  Amarillo,  in  the  center 
of  the  Panhandle  region  of  Texas,  at  an  elevation  of  3,600  feet,  on 
August  19  and  20.  Here  the  following  six  species,  not  taken  else- 
where, were  secured,  together  with  25  of  the  preceding  list,  many 
others  of  which,  it  is  probable,  occur  there  and  would  have  been 
found  in  a  longer  stay  : 

Cordillacris  crenulata.  Tropidolophus   formosus. 

Trachyrhachis  kiowa.  Melanoplus  discolor. 

Metator  pardalinum.  Melanoplus  lakinus. 

Of  these  species  inhabiting  the  semi-arid  plains  and  prairies 
Paratettix  cucullatus,  Encoptolophus  parvus,  and  Trimerotropis  citrina 
frequent  the  margins  or  partly  dried  beds  of  streams  and  sloughs  or 
sinks;  E.  parvus  is  partial  to  plowed  fields  also,  and  T.  citrina,  its 
congeners,  and  the  species  of  Dissosteira,  Spharagemon,  Mestobregma, 
and  Hadrotettix  are  common  on  roadsides,  washes,  ant-fields,  and 
other  patches  of  bare,  sun-baked  soil,  flying  up  by  the  dozen  before 
the  traveler  (pi.  5,  fig.  i).  The  low  but  often  dense  and  tangled 
growth  of  mesquite  and  grama  grasses  (foreground,  pi.  5,  fig.  2  ;  pi.  7, 
fig.  i)  is  the  home  of  Opeia  obscura,  Amphitornus  bicolor,  Cordillacris 
crenulata,  Phlibostroma  quadrimaculatum ,  Orphulella  picturata,  and 
Encoptolophus  costalis.  This  habitat  is  one  of  those  frequented  by  the 
species  of  Arphia  and  Hippiscus,  which  also  occur  in  the  tall,  coarse 
bunch-grasses  in  company  with  the  species  of  Mermiria,  Syrbula 
admirabilis,  Phoetaliotes  nebrascensis,  and  several  species  of  Melanoplus. 


22  FURTHER  RESEARCHES  ON  NORTH  AMERICAN  ACRIDIIM. 

Patches  of  weeds  (A  mbrosia,  Euphorbia,  Grmdelia,etc.,  pi.  5,  fig.  2, 
middle  distance;  pi.  6,  fig.  2,  foreground)  give  shelter  or  sustenance 
to  Aeoloplus,  Melanoplus  differentialis ,  and  several  other  species  of  this 
genus  and  of  Schistocerca  and  Hesperotettix  ;  while  the  tall  sunflowers 
of  gulches  and  waste  corners  form  favorite  perches  for  the  huge  and 
sluggish  lubber  or  buffalo  hopper  (Brachystola  magnd). 

The  Wichita  mountains  form  a  considerable  tract  of  rugged  country 
of  low  elevation  near  the  center  of  southern  Oklahoma  and  represent 
the  summits  of  an  ancient  mountain  range  formerly  of  much  greater 
elevation  and  continued  eastward  in  the  Arbuckle  and  other  ranges  in 
Indian  Territory  and  western  Arkansas,  but  now  almost  submerged 
beneath  the  accumulation  of  flood-wash  material  forming  the  prairie- 
plains  at  their  base.  Some  are  of  rounded  contour  with  grassy  slopes, 
others  present  summits  of  bare,  sun-scorched  crags  and  boulders 
nearly  devoid  of  vegetation  and  jutting  suddenly  upward  from  the 
level  plain  (pi.  7,  fig.  i).  Tracts  of  open  forest  clothe  many  of  the 
higher  slopes  and  fringe  the  streams  of  the  district,  oaks  predominat- 
ing, with  numerous  cedars  on  the  higher  summits  (pis.  7,  8,  9).  Two 
peaks,  Mounts  Scott  and  Sheridan,  rise  to  an  elevation  of  approxi- 
mately 2,500  feet,  at  a  distance  of  10  or  12  miles  in  a  northerly  direc- 
tion from  Cache,  from  which  point,  or  from  Fort  Sill,  they  may  be 
readily  reached  by  team.  A  day  was  spent,  from  Cache  as  the  point 
of  departure,  in  a  trip  to  Mount  Sheridan. 

As  might  be  expected,  owing  to  its  low  elevation  and  limited 
area,  the  locust  fauna  of  the  summit  is  essentially  the  same  as  that  of 
the  plains  at  its  base,  but  scantier,  the  only  variations  found  corre- 
sponding exactly  with  the  difference  in  character  of  the  habitats  repre- 
sented. On  the  bare  rock  slopes  and  weathered  boulders  of  the  summit 
of  Mount  Sheridan  (pi.  9,  fig.  i)  and  of  the  outlying  rocky  spur  near 
Mountain  Park  (pi.  7)  were  found  relict  colonies  of  Trime.rotropis 
saxatilis  (p.  40);  in  the  woods  about  Mount  Sheridan  and  along  the 
stream  at  Cache  are  found  the  forest-loving  species  Spharagemon  bolli, 
Melanoplus  keeleri,  robustus,  and  scudderi.  Other  species  taken  in  the 
bunch-grass  of  the  mountain-top  were  Mermiria  bivittata  and  neo- 
mexicana,  Syrbula  admirabilis ,  Orphulella  decora,  Hippiscus  rugosus, 
Melanoplus  bispinosus  and  packardii,  all  species  that  are  common  on 
the  plains.  As  a  whole,  insect  life  of  all  kinds  was  very  scarce  upon 
the  summit. 

Another  capture  of  interest  in  this  locality  was  that  of  a  repre- 
sentative of  Telmatettix,  a  genus  distributed  widely  in  Mexico  and  the 
far  west,  which  was  taken  on  the  stony  fragments  in  the  stream-bed  at 
the  foot  of  the  northern  talus-slope  of  Mount  Sheridan. 


FURTHER  RESEARCHES  ON   NORTH  AMERICAN  ACRIDIID^.  23 

EXTENSION  OF  KNOWN  RANGE. 

The  data  secured  on  this  trip  have  greatly  extended  the  known 
range  of  several  species  and  two  genera,  as  follows  :  Orphulella  speciosa, 
south  to  Alabama.  Trimerotropis  saxatilis,  west  as  far  as  Oklahoma. 
Dictyophorus  reticulatus,  north  to  northwest  Georgia.  Melanoplus 
fasciatus,  south  to  Alabama  and  Arkansas.  Melanoplus  morsel ',  south 
to  southern  Mississippi.  Melanoplus  obovatipennis  >  south  to  southern 
Mississippi,  in  the  nearly  related  form  tepidus,  which  may  intergrade. 
Paroxya  hoosieri,  south  to  southern  Louisiana.  Podisma  (with  a  new 
species),  south  to  Alabama.  Telmatettix •,  northeast  to  Oklahoma. 

LIST  OF  NEW  SPECIES  AND  VARIETIES  SECURED. 

Nomotettix  cristatus  denticulatus.  Melanoplus  tuberculatus. 

Hippiscus  immaculatus.  Melanoplus   tribuloides. 

Podisma  australis.  Melanoplus  tepidus. 

Melanoplus    latens.  Melanoplus   scudderi   latus. 

LOCALITIES  AT  WHICH  COLLECTING  WAS  DONE. 

The  following  list  includes  the  points  at  which  collecting  was 
done,  however  slight  in  amount,  together  with  their  approximate 
elevation  and  the  date  of  visit : 

GEORGIA  : 

Sand  Mountain,  near  Trenton,  Dade  County,  July  8,  9;  1,500  feet. 

Trenton,  Dade  County,  July  10;  730  feet. 
ALABAMA  : 

Anniston,  Calhoun  County,  July  12;  700  to  1,000  feet. 

Cheaha  Mountain,  Talladega  County,  July  13;  2,000  to  2,400  feet. 

Lookout  Mountain,  near  Valley  Head,  DeKalb  County,  July  n;  1,600  feet. 

McCalla  Siding,  Jefferson  County,  July  14;  450  feet. 

Turnipseed's  ranch,  Talladega  Co.,  near  Cheaha  Mt,  July  13;  1,000  feet. 

Tuscaloosa,  Tuscaloosa   County,  July   15;  200  feet. 

Valley  Head,  DeKalb  County,  July  n;   1,025  feet. 
MISSISSIPPI  : 

Biloxi,  Harrison  County,  July  19;  I  to  20  feet. 

Gulfport,  Harrison  County,  July  18,  21 ;  I  to  20  feet. 

Hattiesburg,  Perry  County,  July  17;   140  feet. 

Meridian,  Lauderdale  County,  July  16;  350  feet. 

Nugent,  Harrison  County,  July  20;  65  feet. 
LOUISIANA  : 

Buras,  Plaquemines  Parish,  July  23;  5  feet. 

Franklin,   St.    Mary   Parish,  July  24;    10  feet. 

Milneburg,  Orleans  Parish,  July  22;  5  feet. 
ARKANSAS  : 

Ashdown,  Little  River  County,  July  26  to  28;  330  feet.. 

Blue  Mountain  Station,  Logan  County,  August  28;  540  feet. 

Centerville,  Yell  County,  August  31;  450  feet. 

Dardanelle,  Yell  County,  August  31 ;  350  to  500  feet. 

DeQueen,  Sevier  County,  July  29;  380  feet. 

Eagleton,   Polk   County,  August  3;   1,500  feet. 

Fayetteville,  Washington  County,  September  5;   1,300  feet. 

Magazine  Mt.,  Logan  Co.,  August  29 ;  1,800  to  2,800,  chiefly  at  2,600  feet. 

Mena,  Polk  County,  July  30,  31;   1,150  to  1,700  feet. 


24  FURTHER  RESEARCHES  ON  NORTH  AMERICAN  ACRIDIID^. 

ARKANSAS — Continued. 

Ola,  Yell  County,  August  30;  400  feet. 

Rich  Mountain,  Polk  County,  August  I,  2;  2,600  feet. 

Rich  Mountain   Station,   Polk  County,  August  3;   1,625   feet. 

Van  Buren,  Crawford  County,  September  i ;  450  feet. 

Winslow,  Washington  County,  September  2  to  4;  1,700  to  2,100  feet. 
INDIAN  TERRITORY: 

Caddo,  Choctaw  Nation,  August  8;  700  feet. 

Caddo  Hill,   Choctaw  Nation,  August  9;  800  feet. 

Haileyville,  Choctaw  Nation,  August  6;  650  feet. 

Howe,  Choctaw  Nation,  August  4,  5;  500  feet. 

South  McAlester,  Choctaw  Nation,  August  7;  700  to  850  feet. 

Wewoka,  Seminole  Nation,  August  27;  800  feet. 

Wilburton,  Choctaw  Nation,  August  27;  650  feet. 
TEXAS : 

Amarillo,  Potter  County,  August  19,  20;  3,600  feet. 

Bonita,   Montague  County,  August  14;  950  feet. 

Clarendon,  Donley  County,  August  18;  2,700  feet. 

Denison,  Grayson  County,  August  n  to  13;  700  feet. 

Myra,  Cook  County,  August  14;  900  feet. 

Quanah,  Hardeman  County,  August  21 ;   1,500  feet.. 

St.  Jo,  Montague  County,  August  14;  1,140  feet. 

Wichita  Falls,  Wichita  County,  August  15,  16;  950  feet. 
OKLAHOMA  : 

Cache,  Kiowa  and  Comanche  Reservation,  August  23,  25;  1,275  feet. 

Mountain  Park,  Kiowa  and  Comanche  Reservation,  August  22,  23;  1,360 
to  1,690  feet. 

Mount   Sheridan,  base,   Kiowa  and    Comanche   Reservation,   August  24; 
i, 600  feet  (est). 

Mount  Sheridan,  summit,  Kiowa  and  Comanche  Reservation,  August  24; 
2,500  feet. 

Snyder,  Kiowa  and  Comanche  Reservation,  August  23;  1,350  feet. 

Shawnee,  Pottawottamie   Nation,   August  26;    1,000  feet. 

ANNOTATED  LIST  OF  SPECIES. 

This  list  includes  each  species  of  adult  Acridiidse  secured,  the 
locality  where  taken,  with  brief  notes  on  its  abundance,  habitat,  and 
habits  in  the  territory  traversed.  In  some  cases  data  on  the  early 
stages  (in  parentheses)  are  also  included,  but  there  are  many,  particu- 
larly among  the  species  of  Schistocerca  and  Melanoplus,  which  can  not 
be  identified  with  certainty.  Dates  and  elevations  will  be  found,  if 
desired,  in  the  preceding  list  of  localities. 

As  has  been  stated,  the  entire  territory  lies  in  the  Austral  zones, 
and  data  are  as  yet  insufficient  for  the  preparation  of  satisfactory  lists 
of  species  characteristic  of  each  section  of  these  zones.  Consequently, 
in  this  list  relatively  few  statements  will  be  found  regarding  zonal 
distribution  except  in  connection  with  the  Transition  or  boreal  faunal 
elements. 

For  several  reasons  it  has  seemed  wisest  to  use,  in  the  main,  the 
same  terminology  as  in  my  first  report  (Pub.  No.  18),  but  Trachy- 
rhachis  has  been  substituted  for  Mestobregma. 


FURTHER  RESEARCHES  ON   NORTH  AMERICAN   ACRIDIID^.  25 

TETTIGINAE. 

NbmotettlX  CfistatuS   Scudder. 
Georgia:  Sand  Mountain   (juv.). 
Alabama:  Lookout  Mountain   (juv.). 
Arkansas:  Dardanelle  (Mena,  juv.). 

Nomotettix  cristatus  dcnticttlattts  Morse. 

Nomotettix  crestatus  denticulatus .    Psyche,  xui,  119,  1906. 

Indian  Territory:  Caddo  (juv.);  Haileyville;  South  McAlester  (juv.). 
Texas:   Denison. 

The  variety  denticulatus  is  distinguished  by  being  more  scabrous 
than  the  type  form,  with  the  margins  of  the  pronotum  very  minutely 
serrulate,  the  sides  of  the  vertex  of  the  head  less  regularly  convex,  its 
carina  less  protuberant,  the  cariua  of  the  pronotum  thinner  and  higher, 
the  middle  femora  with  undulate  margins,  and  the  upper  edges  of  the 
hind  femora  with  inwardly  or  upwardly  directed  denticulate  projec- 
tions. These  characters  are  exhibited  by  a  male  from  Denison,  and 
the  specimens  from  Indian  Territory  show  them  in  lesser  degree.  All 
of  the  examples  secured  have  a  more  elevated  and  thinner  carina  than 
New  England  specimens,  approaching  the  compressus  form. 

This  species  is  not  uncommon  locally  on  damp,  sandy  loam,  thinly 
grassed  or  more  or  less  exposed  to  light  and  sun,  such  as  upland 
pastures  at  the  North  or  the  edges  and  openings  of  woods  at  the 
South.  In  summer  the  young  are  numerous,  the  adults  very  scarce. 

Neotcttix  femoratus  Scudder. 
Georgia:  Sand  Mountain. 

Alabama:  Anniston;   Lookout   Mountain;   McCalla;   Tuscaloosa. 
Mississippi:  Biloxi;  Gulfport;  Hattiesburg;  Nugent. 
Arkansas:  Ashdown;  Dardanelle;  DeQueen;  Eagleton;  Fayetteville ;  Mena; 

Ola;  Rich  Mountain;  Rich  Mountain  Station. 
Indian  Territory:  Caddo;  Haileyville;  Howe;  South  McAlester;  Wilburton. 

One  of  the  most  plentiful  species  of  Tettiginae  in  the  southeastern 
quarter  of  the  country,  often  occurring  in  great  abundance  in  specially 
favorable  localities.  Such  a  spot  is  shown  in  the  frontispiece  in  the 
flat  piney- woods  of  southwestern  Arkansas.  It  is  widely  and  rather 
generally  distributed,  preferring  sandy  soils  which  are  frequently  or 
perpetually  moist.  Both  long- winged  and  short- winged  forms  were 
obtained,  the  latter  being  somewhat  more  plentiful. 

TettlX  arcnoSUS  Burmeister. 
Georgia:  Sand  Mountain. 
Alabama:  Tuscaloosa;  Valley  Head. 
Mississippi:  Hattiesburg;  Meridian. 

Arkansas:  Ashdown;  DeQueen;  Fayetteville;  Ola;  Winslow. 
Indian  Territory:  Howe;  South  McAlester. 
Texas:  Denison. 


26  FURTHER  RESEARCHES  ON   NORTH  AMERICAN  ACRIDIID^. 

This,  the  most  plentiful  member  of  the  genus  in  Austral  regions, 
was  taken  at  a  number  of  localities  in  small  numbers,  usually  on  sandy 
loam,  commonly  in  company  with  other  members  of  the  group,  either 
Tettix,  Neotettix,  or  Tetligidea. 

Tcttix  hancocki  Morse. 

Arkansas:   Fayetteville    (juv.)  ;   Rich  Mountain;   Winslow. 
Widely  distributed  in  the  Upper  Austral  and  Transition  zones  of 
the  central  part  of  the  country,  generally  occurring  on  moist  upland 
soils  of  sandy  texture,  especially  on  high  elevations, 

Tettix  omatus  Say. 

Alabama:  Valley  Head. 

Common  in  a  valley  pasture  of  three  or  four  years'  standing,  and 
probably  not  eradicated  from  it  during  cultivation  (see  Paratettix  cucul- 
latus).  This  and  the  preceding  species  are  of  much  more  frequent 
occurrence  in  the  Northern  than  in  the  Southern  States,  their  range 
extending  even  into  the  Canadian  zone.  In  the  North  this  species  is 
often  associated  with  Nomotettix  cristatus. 

Paratettix  CUCullatuS  Burmeister. 

Paratettix  cucullatus  abortus  Hancock. 

Alabama:  Tuscaloosa. 
Mississippi:  Gulfport. 

Arkansas:  Ashdown;  Blue  Mountain  Station;  Dardanelle;  DeQueen;  Fay- 
etteville ;  Magazine  Mountain ;  Mena ;  Ola ;  Rich  Mountain  Station. 
Indian  Territory:  Haileyville;  Howe;  South  McAlester;  Wewoka. 
Texas:  Bonita;  Clarendon;  Denison;  Wichita  Falls. 
Oklahoma:  Cache;  Mountain  Park;  Shawnee;  base  of  Mount  Sheridan. 

A  very  widely  distributed  and  frequently  very  plentiful  species 
frequenting  the  shores  of  ponds  and  streams,  sloughs,  springy  runs, 
etc.,  from  southern  New  England  to  Texas  and  Colorado.  (See  front- 
ispiece.) At  Dardanelle,  Arkansas,  it  was  exceedingly  abundant  in  a 
moist,  shallow  gully  in  a  cornfield  on  the  sandy  bottom-land  along 
the  Arkansas  River. 

Three  specimens  of  the  short- winged  form  abortus  Hancock  were 
secured  at  Gulfport,  Mississippi,  at  a  spring  on  the  edge  of  the  sea- 
beach. 

Telmatettix  aztecus  Saussure. 

Oklahoma:  base  of  Mt.  Sheridan,  Wichita  Mountains. 
A  single  male  of  this  species  was  taken  in  the  stony  bed  of  a  small 
stream  at  the  foot  of  the  northern  talus  slope  of  Mount  Sheridan 
(pi.  8,  fig.  2)  hidden  in  the  woods. 


FURTHER  RESEARCHES  ON   NORTH  AMERICAN  ACRIDIID^.  27 

Tettigidea  armata  Morse. 
Arkansas:  Ola. 
Indian  Territory:  Howe. 

One  male  and  one  female  were  taken  with  T.  lateralis  while  sweep- 
ing in  moist  bottom-lands. 
Tettigfidea  lateralis  Say. 

Georgia:  Sand  Mountain  (juv.). 

Alabama:  Anniston;  Lookout  Mountain;  McCalla;  Tuscaloosa;  Valley  Head. 
Mississippi:  Gulf  port;  Hattiesburg. 
Louisiana:  Milneburg. 

Arkansas:  Ashdown;  Dardanelle;  DeQueen;  Eagleton;  Fayetteville ;  Maga- 
zine Mountain;  Mena;  Ola;  Rich  Mountain;  Rich  Mountain  Station; 
Winslow. 
Indian  Territory:  Caddo;  Haileyville;  Howe;  South  McAlester;  Wewoka; 

Wilburton. 
Texas:  Bonita;  Denison. 

Tettigidea  lateralis  polymorpha  Burmeister. 
Arkansas:  Ashdown;  DeQueen;  Mena;  Ola. 
Indian  Territory:   Howe;   South  McAlester. 

This  species,  with  Paratettix  cucullatus  and  Neotettix  femoratus, 
is  one  of  the  dominant  Tettiginae  of  the  Southern  States,  occurring  in 
countless  numbers  in  wet  bottomlands,  along  streams,  and  even  at 
considerable  elevations  about  springs,  as  on  Magazine  Mountain, 
Arkansas.  The  short- winged  examples,  usually  referred  to  var.  poly- 
morpha,  were  much  less  plentiful  than  long- winged,  and  the  males 
seem  to  greatly  outnumber  the  other  sex  ;  this,  however,  is  very  likely 
due  to  the  greater  sluggishness  of  the  latter,  rendering  them  less  liable 
to  capture  in  the  sweeping-net. 

The  frontispiece  shows  a  station  where  this  species  was  extremely 
abundant. 

TRYXALINAE. 
Tryxalis  brevicornis  Linne. 

Alabama:  Tuscaloosa. 

Louisiana:  Franklin,  Milneburg  (juv.  4,  5). 

lyocally  common  in  wet  meadows,  swamps,  and  along  streams. 
At  Tuscaloosa  it  was  plentiful  among  peppermint  in  a  springy  area. 

Mermiria  alacris  Scudder. 

(Mermirta  vigilans  Scudder  appears  to  be  a  synonym  of  this  species). 

Indian  Territory:  Wilburton  (juv.  5). 
Oklahoma:  Shawnee. 

Only  half  a  dozen  examples  of  this  species  were  secured.  These 
include  male,  female,  and  immature  specimens  and  were  taken  among 
coarse  grasses  in  the  vicinity  of  a  stream,  and  in  a  prairie  meadow. 


28  FURTHER  RESEARCHES  ON   NORTH  AMERICAN  ACRIDIID^. 

Mermiria  bivittata  Serville. 
Alabama:  Cheaha  Mountain. 
Mississippi:    (Biloxi,  juv.  3,  4)  ;    (Hattiesburg,  juv.  4) ;   Nugent   (juv.  3, 

4,  5). 

Indian  Territory:  Caddo;  South  McAlester;  Wilburton. 
Texas:  Amarillo;  Bonita;   Clarendon;  Denison;  Quanah;  St.  Jo;  Wichita 

Falls. 
Oklahoma:  Cache;  Mountain  Park;  base  of  Mount  Sheridan. 

This  is  a  common,  widely  distributed,  and  rather  variable  species, 
which  inhabits  patches  of  bunch-grass  (Andropogon,  Chrysopogon,  etc.), 
occurring  in  either  wet  or  dry  situations,  but  is  usually  more  abundant 
in  the  latter  (pi.  3,  fig.  i).  The  pale  submarginal  stripe  on  the  teg- 
mina  varies  from  bright  apple-green  through  greenish  white  to  clear 
white,  and  is  frequently  lacking  entirely  in  the  male  and  either  scarcely 
discernible  or  very  distinct  in  the  female.  Unstriped  specimens  seem 
to  be  as  widely  distributed  as  striped  ones. 

Mermiria  neo-mcxicana  Thomas. 

Indian  Territory:  Caddo  (juv.  2,  3). 

Texas:  Amarillo;  Clarendon  (juv.  5);  Wichita  Falls. 

Oklahoma:  Cache;  Mountain  Park;  base  and  summit  of  Mount  Sheridan. 

This  species  is  characteristic  of  the  coarse  grasses  of  the  drier 
parts  of  the  prairie-plains  and  is  often  locally  abundant.  Its  habitat 
is  well  shown  in  foreground  of  plate  8,  fig.  2. 

Syrbula  admirabilis  uhl. 

Georgia:  Sand  Mountain;  Trenton. 

Alabama:   Cheaha  Mountain;  Lookout  Mountain;   Tuscaloosa. 

Mississippi:  Biloxi;  Nugent. 

Louisiana:  Franklin. 

Arkansas:  Ashdown;  Blue  Mountain  Station;  Dardanelle;  DeQueen;  Fay- 

etteville ;  Magazine  Mountain ;  Mena ;  Rich  Mountain ;  Rich  Mountain 

Station;  Van  Buren;  Winslow. 

Indian  Territory:  Caddo;  Haileyville;  Howe;  South  McAlester;  Wilburton. 
Texas:   Amarillo;   Bonita;    Clarendon;   Denison;    Myra;   Quanah;    St.  Jo; 

Wichita  Falls. 
Oklahoma:  Cache;  Mountain  Park;   Shawnee;  base  and  summit  of  Mount 

Sheridan. 

This  is  one  of  the  commonest  and  most  generally  distributed 
locusts  in  the  South,  occurring  most  abundantly  among  grasses  in  dry 
stations  and  waste  places.  During  July  immature  examples  greatly 
outnumbered  adults,  and  various  stages  of  the  young  were  found 
throughout  August,  according  to  latitude  and  altitude. 


FURTHER  RESEARCHES  ON   NORTH  AMERICAN   ACRIDIID^.  2Q 

Eritettix  carinatus  Scudder. 
Georgia:  Sand  Mountain. 
Alabama:  (Lookout  Mountain,  juv.  2);  (Valley  Head,  juv.  2). 

A  single  adult  male  and  three  nymphs  in  the  second  stage  of 
development  were  the  only  specimens  secured. 

Eritettix  sp. 

Texas:    (Clarendon,  juv.  3). 

A  single  specimen  resembling  the  preceding  species,  but  probably 
different. 

Efitettix  sp. 

Texas:  (Quanah,  juv.  4). 
One  specimen,  not  identifiable  specifically. 

Amphitornus  bicolor  Thomas. 

Texas:  Amarillo;   (Clarendon,  juv.  3;   (Quanah,  juv.  4). 

Oklahoma:  Cache,  Mountain  Park. 

One  male  and  four  females  were  taken,  chiefly  among  mesquite 
grass,  in  company  with  Opeia  obscura. 

Opeia  obscura  Thomas. 

Texas:  Amarillo  (juv.  5);  Clarendon;  Denison  (juv.  5);  Quanah;  Wichita 

Falls   (juv.   5)- 
Oklahoma:  Cache;   Mountain  Park;  base  of  Mount  Sheridan. 

In  the  drier  parts  of  the  prairie  region  and  on  the  plains  this 
species  is  common,  even  abundant  locally,  among  the  mesquite  grass 
and  other  low  herbage,  particularly  about  the  bare  places  surrounding 
the  nests  of  the  harvesting-ants.  In  color  and  form  it  so  strongly 
resembles,  the  male  especially,  the  scattered  glumes  of  grasses  and 
other  d6bris  of  sweeping  as  to  be  overlooked  readily  by  the  collector, 
even  when  in  the  net. 

Amblytropidia  occidentals  Saussure. 
Alabama:    (Anniston). 

Mississippi:   (Biloxi;  Gulfport;   Meridian;   Nugent). 
Arkansas:   (Blue  Mountain  Station;  DeQueen;  Eagleton;  Mena). 
Indian   Territory:    (Caddo;   Haileyville;   Howe;    South   McAlester). 
Texas:   (Bonita;  Denison). 

This  locust  is  represented  entirely  by  immature  examples,  ranging 
in  development  from  the  second  stage,  at  Anniston,  July  i2th,  to  the 
fifth  stage  at  Blue  Mountain  Station  on  August  28th.  It  is  widely 
distributed,  and  common  locally.  The  adults  frequent  open  forests 
and  are  plentiful  in  the  autumn  and  winter. 


30  FURTHER  RESEARCHES  ON   NORTH  AMERICAN  ACRIDIID^. 

Cordillacris  crenulata  Bruner. 
Texas:  Amarillo. 

Three  females  only  of  this  species  were  found  among  the  mesquite 
grass  on  the  Staked  Plains  at  Amarillo,  in  company  with  Opeia 
obscura  and  Phlibostroma  quadrimaculatum. 

Phlibostroma  quadrimacttlatum  Thomas. 

Texas:  Amarillo;  Clarendon;  Quanah;  Wichita  Falls. 
Oklahoma:  Cache;  Mountain  Park. 

A  Great  Plains  species,  not  uncommon  locally  in  mesquite  grass, 
associated  with  Opeia,  Ageneotettix ,  Encoptolophus  costalis,  etc. 

Orphulclla  olivacca  Morse. 
Mississippi:  Biloxi. 
Louisiana:  B'uras. 

This  is  a  salt-marsh  locust  of  very  wide  distribution  along  the 
Atlantic  seaboard  from  Connecticut  to  Darien,  and  occurs  only  in 
salt  or  brackish  marshes.  Sometimes  local  and  extremely  plentiful, 
at  Buras  it  was  generally  distributed  throughout  the  portion  of  the 
marshes  examined.  It  is  probably  found  throughout  the  entire  salt- 
marsh  district  of  southern  Louisiana. 

Orphulella  pelidna  Burmeister. 

Georgia:  Sand  Mountain;  Trenton. 

Alabama:  Anniston;  Cheaha  Mountain;  Lookout  Mountain;  McCalla;  Tur- 

nipseed's   Ranch;  Tuscaloosa. 

Mississippi:   Biloxi;   Gulfport;   Hattiesburg;    Meridian;   Nugent. 
Arkansas:    Ashdown;    DeQueen;    Eagleton;    Magazine    Mountain;    Mena; 

Ola ;  Rich  Mountain ;  Rich  Mountain  Station ;  Winslow. 
Indian  Territory:  Caddo;  Haileyville;  Howe;  South  McAlester;  Wilburton. 
Texas:  Bonita. 

One  of  the  most  plentiful  small  locusts  of  the  humid  southeastern 
quarter  of  the  country,  widely  and  quite  generally  distributed  in  fields 
of  sandy  loam. 

Orphulella  picturata  Scudder. 

Arkansas:  Ashdown;  Blue  Mountain  Station;  (Centerville,  juv.  4,  5);  Dar- 

danelle ;  Magazine  Mountain ;  Van  Buren ;  Winslow. 
Indian  Territory:  Haileyville;  Howe. 

Texas:  Clarendon;  Denison;  Myra;  Quanah;  Wichita  Falls. 
Oklahoma:  Cache;  Mountain  Park;  Shawnee;  Snyder. 

This  dainty  little  locust  is  a  common  and  wide-spread  species, 
plentiful  in  dry,  open  fields  and  prairies,  particularly  where  rather 
thinly  grassed,  about  ant-nests,  old  stack  sites,  prairie-dog  mounds, 
etc.  \jkz  pelidna  and  speciosa,  it  presents  a  great  variety  of  coloring. 


FURTHER  RESEARCHES  ON   NORTH  AMERICAN  ACRIDIID^.  3! 

Orphulella  speciosa  Scudder. 
Alabama:   Cheaha  Mountain. 

A  series  of  9  males  and  1 3  females  was  secured  among  the  xero- 
phytic  vegetation  of  the  summit  of  Cheaha  Mountain.  This  is  the 
most  southern  point  from  which  the  species  is  recorded  in  the  Kast. 
The  specimens  taken  vary  from  Northern  examples  in  being  larger 
and  having  longer  wings. 

Orphulella  decora  McNeill. 

Arkansas:  Magazine  Mountain;  Winslow. 

Indian  Territory:   Haileyville;  Howe;  Wilburton. 

Texas:  Denison. 

Oklahoma:  Cache;  Shawnee;  summit  of  Mount  Sheridan. 

Though  local,  this  species  is  not  uncommon  in  the  denser  growths 
of  grass  in  the  damper  parts  of  fields  in  the  territory  inhabited  by  it, 
while  picturata  prefers  the  shorter  growths  of  drier  soils.  In  structure 
there  is  a  close  parallelism  between  this  species  (or  form)  and  the  spec- 
imens of  speciosa  from  Cheaha  Mountain,  when  compared  with  Northern 
examples  si  speciosa. 

Dichromorpha  viridis  Scudder. 

Mississippi:  Hattiesburg. 

Arkansas:  Ashdown;  Blue  Mountain  Station;  Dardanelle;  DeQueen;  Eagle- 
ton;  Fayetteville ;  Magazine  Mountain;  Mena;  Ola;  Rich  Mountain; 
Rich  Mountain  Station;  Winslow. 

Indian  Territory:  Howe. 

Texas:  Denison. 

Oklahoma:  Shawnee. 

A  widely  distributed  species  of  the  humid  part  of  the  Austral 
zones,  somewhat  local  in  habitat,  occurring  usually  among  dense 
herbage  in  moist  places,  either  fields,  the  edges  of  forests,  the  more 
open  woodlands,  or  the  vicinity  of  springs  and  streams. 

Clinocephaltis  elegans  Morse. 

Mississippi:  Biloxi  (juv.  2,  3,  4,  5)  ;  Gulfport  (juv.  5)  ;  Nugent  (juv.  4,  5). 
Louisiana:  Milneburg. 

Common  in  the  grass  of  swampy  stations  in  woodland  along  the 
Gulf  shore,  and  extending  as  far  north  as  the  vicinity  of  New  York. 

Chloealtis  conspersa  Harris. 

Arkansas:  Magazine  Mountain,  2,600  feet. 

A  single  male  of  this  boreal  species  was  secured  in  a  rank  growth 
of  bunch-grass  (Andropogoii)  in  the  border  of  a  cultivated  field  sur- 
rounded by  woodland,  a  station  exactly  like  its  preferred  haunts  in 
New  England.  This  species  deposits  its  eggs  in  decayed  wood,  hence 
its  preference  for  the  neighborhood  of  woodland,  fence-rows,  etc. 


32  FURTHER  RESEARCHES  ON   NORTH  AMERICAN  ACRIDIID^. 

Boopedon  auriventris  McNeill. 

Arkansas:    Magazine   Mountain;    Mena. 
Indian  Territory:   Caddo;  Haileyville. 
Texas:  Denison. 

This  is  an  interesting  sylvan  species  peculiar  to  the  southern  half 
of  the  forested  region  between  the  Mississippi  River  and  the  Great 
Plains.  It  was  first  met  with  at  Mena,  on  the  eastern  slope  of  the 
foothills  of  Rich  Mountain,  in  an  open  forest  of  pine  and  deciduous 
trees  (pi.  3,  fig.  2);  at  Haileyville  and  Caddo  Hill  in  similar  rocky, 
deciduous  woodlands.  At  Magazine  Mountain  it  was  one  of  the  nota- 
ble assemblage  of  species  which  had  gathered  in  the  shrubby  growth 
at  the  edge  of  the  summit  cliff  (pi.  4,  fig.  2).  It  is  of  sluggish  dispo- 
sition, and  but  few  are  seen,  but  when  aroused  it  leaps  powerfully, 
often  two  or  three  times  in  succession.  In  all,  eleven  males  and  ten 
females  were  captured.  The  males  appear  ridiculously  small  beside 
their  huge  mates, 

Boopedon  nubilum  Say. 
Texas:  Wichita  Falls. 

Two  specimens  were  captured  among  the  herbage  at  the  roadside 
shown  in  plate  5,  fig.  i. 

Ageneotcttix  deorum  Scudder. 
Indian  Territory:  Caddo. 

Texas:  Amarillo;  Bonita;  Clarendon;  Denison;  Quanah;  St.  Jo;  Wichita 
Falls. 

This  is  a  widely  distributed  species,  locally  common,  especially 
on  sandy  soil  with  a  sparse  clothing  of  herbage,  but  also  occurring 
frequently  among  the  grass  of  arid  localities.  At  Caddo  Hill  it  was 
found  on  a  sandy  area  of  limited  extent  in  the  midst  of  an  open  wood- 
land, this  relation  probably  being  due  to  the  encroachment  of  the 
forests  on  earlier  unforested  territory. 

The  specimens  taken  are  of  large  size,  with  relatively  long  tegmina 
and  obtuse-angled  vertex. 

Aulocara  femoratum  Scudder. 
Texas:  Quanah. 

Half  a  dozen  examples  of  this  species  were  secured  among  the 
grass  in  the  vicinity  of  the  stony  hill-top  shown  in  plate  6,  fig.  i. 

Aulocara  elliotti  Thomas. 
Oklahoma:  Cache;  Snyder. 

Campestrian,  among  the  mesquite  grass  of  the  fields.  Two 
examples  only. 


FURTHER  RESEARCHES  ON   NORTH  AMERICAN  ACRIDIID^.  33 

OEDIPODINAE. 
Arphia  xanthoptcra  Germar. 

Alabama:  (Anniston,  juv.  4);  (Lookout  Mountain,  juv.  3,  4);  (McCalla, 
juv.  5). 

Mississippi:   Biloxi;    (Meridian,  juv.  5);  Nugent   (juv.  4). 

Arkansas:  (Ashdown,  juv.  5);  Blue  Mountain  Station;  Dardanelle;  (De- 
Queen,  juv.  5)  ;  (Eagleton,  juv.  4)  ;  Fayetteville  (juv.  5)  ;  Magazine 
Mountain  (juv.  5);  (Mena,  juv.  4,  5);  Ola;  (Rich  Mountain,  juv. 
3,  5)  ;  Winslow. 

Indian  Territory:  (Caddo,  juv.  5);  Haileyville;  Howe  (juv.  5);  Wilburton. 

Texas:  Clarendon;  Denison. 

Oklahoma:  Cache;  Shawnee. 

This  is  a  common  species  in  dry  fields  and  openings  in  woodlands 
throughout  a  large  part  of  the  eastern  half  of  the  country,  maturing 
in  the  autumn. 

Arphia  sulphurea  Fabritius. 
Georgia:  Sand  Mountain. 

Alabama:  Cheaha  Mountain;  Lookout  Mountain. 
Mississippi:  Meridian. 
Arkansas:   Mena;   Rich  Mountain. 
Indian  Territory:  Caddo;  Haileyville;  Howe;  South  McAlester. 

Found  in  the  same  stations  as  xanthopteray  but  maturing  in  spring; 
no  young  were  observed. 

Arphia  luteola  Scudder. 

Indian  Territory:  Caddo;  Howe. 
Texas:  Denison;  Wichita  Falls. 

A  half-dozen  specimens,  all  adult  and  some  of  them  much  worn, 
were  captured  among  the  weeds  of  old  fields.  The  color  of  the  wings 
varies  from  a  lemon-yellow  to  a  dull  orange-buff,  darkest  in  the  oldest 
specimens. 

Arphia  simplex  Scudder. 

Indian  Territory:  Caddo  Hill. 
Three  males  with  bright  orange  wings,  from  old  fields. 

Arphia  nietana  Saussure. 
Texas:  Quanah. 

Two  males  only,  from  grassy  fields. 
Chortophaga  viridifasciata  DeGeer. 

Georgia:  Sand  Mountain  (juv.  I,  2,  3,  4,  5)  ;  Trenton  (juv.  3,  5). 
Alabama:  Anniston   (juv.  2,  3,  4,  5);  Lookout  Mountain  (juv.  4,  5);  Mc- 
Calla (juv.  5) ;  Tuscaloosa  (juv.  5)  ;  Valley  Head  (juv.  3,  4,  5). 
Mississippi:  Biloxi;  Gulfport;  Hattiesburg  (juv.  5);  Nugent. 
Louisiana:  B'uras;  Franklin;  Milneburg  (juv.  5). 


34  FURTHER  RESEARCHES  ON   NORTH  AMERICAN  ACRIDIID^. 

Arkansas:  Ashdown  (juv.  3,  4,  5)  ;  Blue  Mountain  Station  (juv.  3,  4)  ; 
Dardanelle  (juv.  4)  ;  DeQueen  (juv.  5)  ;  Eagleton  (juv.  5)  ;  Fayette- 
ville  (juv.  3);  Magazine  Mountain;  Mena  (juv.  5);  Ola;  Rich  Moun- 
tain; Rich  Mountain  Station;  Winslow. 

Indian  Territory:  Caddo;  Haileyville;  Howe  (juv.  5);  South  McAlester; 
Wilburton  (juv.  5). 

Texas:  Bonita;   (Denison,  juv.  3);  Wichita  Falls. 

Oklahoma:  Cache;  Mountain  Park  (juv.  3);  Shawnee  (juv.  5). 

This  species  is  one  of  the  most  ubiquitous  locusts  of  the  eastern 
half  of  the  continent,  inhabiting  a  great  variety  of  environments, 
chiefly  campestral  and  on  soil  containing  a  moderate  amount  of  mois- 
ture. It  is  one  of  the  few  species  which  has  apparently  extended  its 
range  down  the  Mississippi  River  along  the  levees,  being  common  on 
the  higher  ground  near  the  river  and  on  embankments  along  canals. 

Encoptolophus  patVttS   Scudder. 
Indian  Territory:  Caddo. 

Texas:  Amarillo;  Clarendon;  Denison;  Quanah;  Wichita  Falls. 
Oklahoma:  Snyder. 

A  locally  common  species  frequenting  the  dark,  chocolate-colored 
humus  of  the  exposed  shores  of  dried-up  ponds  and  ditches,  and  not 
infrequently  found  on  cultivated  fields.  It  is  so  inconspicuously  col- 
ored and  so  nearly  silent  in  flight  as  readily  to  escape  notice  either 
when  on  the  wing  or  when  at  rest. 

Encoptolophus  costalis  Scudder. 

Texas:  Amarillo;  Clarendon;  Myra;  Quanah. 

L,ocally  common  among  the  mesquite  grass,  varying  much  in 
coloration,  specimens  being  occasionally  light  yellowish  green,  the 
markings  contrasting  strongly  with  the  ground  color.  The  green 
form  bears  a  strong  resemblance  to  Phlibostroma  quadrimaculatum. 

Hippiscus  COtallipes  Haldeman. 
Texas:  Clarendon;  Quanah. 
Oklahoma:  Cache;  Mountain  Park;  Snyder. 

A  large,  handsome,  and  wary  species,  not  uncommon  locally 
among  mesquite  grass  and  along  roadsides. 

Hippiscus  immaculatus  Morse. 

Hippiscus  immaculatus.    Psyche,  xui,  119,  1906. 

Texas:  Clarendon.    One  male. 

"The  specimen  [described]  is  the  size  of  rugosus.  The  pronotum 
is  less  rugose,  smoother  in  outline  and  in  surface,  a  little  narrower ; 
the  hind  margin  is  obtuse-angulate,  its  apex  rounded  and  its  sides 


FURTHER  RESEARCHES  ON  NORTH  AMERICAN  ACRIDIID^.  35 

straight.  Wings  like  those  of  rugosus,  the  tip  infuscated  but  not  mac- 
ulate. Ground-color  of  tegmina  a  pale,  almost  vinaceous  brown ;  the 
basal  half  of  the  anal  field  suffused  with  fuscous  except  along  the  anal 
vein ;  the*distal  half  of  the  costal  field  more  or  less  suffused  and  the 
basal  third  finely  maculate,  the  proximal  part  of  the  discoidal  field 
evenly  suffused,  the  veins  and  venules  of  the  distal  part  more  or  less 
infuscated  apically,  and  a  slight  fuscous  suffusion  near  the  base. 

'  'Compared  with  rugosus  the  specimen  differs  relatively  little  struc- 
turally or  in  wing-marking,  but  radically  in  the  tegminal  pattern, 
which  suggests  that  of  tuberculatus ,  but  is  much  less  distinct." 

HipplSCUS  phoeniCOpteruS   German 
Georgia:  Sand  Mountain;  Trenton. 

Alabama:  Cheaha  Mountain;  Lookout  Mountain;  Turnipseed's  Ranch. 
Mississippi:  Meridian;  Nugent. 
Arkansas:  Magazine  Mountain;  Rich  Mountain. 
Indian  Territory:  Caddo;  Haileyville;  Howe. 

In  early  summer  this  is  the  commonest  species  of  the  genus  from 
Arkansas  eastward.  It  frequents  fields  and  waste  grounds,  sometimes 
entering  the  more  open  forests, 

Hippiscus  tugfosus  Scudder. 
Georgia:  (Trenton,  juv.  4). 
Alabama:   Anniston    (juv.  4,   5) ;    (Lookout   Mountain,   juv.   3) ;   McCalla, 

juv.  3,  5). 
Mississippi:    Biloxi    (juv.  2);    Gulfport;   Hattiesburg    (juv.   2);    Meridian 

(juv.  2)  ;  Nugent  (juv.  4,  5)  ;   (Tuscaloosa,  juv.  2,  3,  4,  5). 
Arkansas:  (Ashdown,  juv.  5)  ;  Blue  Mountain  Station;  Dardanelle  (juv.  5)  ; 

Fayetteville   (juv.  5)  ;  Magazine  Mountain  (juv.  4)  ;   (Rich  Mountain, 

juv.    3) ;    (Rich    Mountain    Station,    juv.    3) ;    Van    Buren,    Winslow 

(juv.  5). 
Indian  Territory:  Caddo  (juv.  5)  ;  Haileyville  (juv.  5)  ;  Howe  (juv.  3,  4, 

5)  ;  South  McAlester  (juv.  5)  ;  Wilburton. 

Texas:  Amarillo;  Bonita;  Clarendon;  Denison;  Quanah;  Wichita  Falls. 
Oklahoma:  Cache;  Mountain  Park;  Shawnee;  base  and  summit  of  Mount 

Sheridan. 

A  very  common  and  widely  distributed  species,  often  abundant 
locally. 

Hippiscus  saussurei  Scudder. 

Texas:  Amarillo;  Bonita;  Wichita  Falls. 

Two  males  and  two  females  from  open  weedy  fields.  A  very  large, 
active,  and  exceedingly  wary  locust. 


36  FURTHER  RESEARCHES  ON  NORTH  AMERICAN 

Lcprus  wheeleri  Thomas. 

Texas:  Clarendon;  Quanah   (juv.  3,  4,  5);  Wichita  Falls. 
Four  adults  and  several  young  were  taken  on  roadsides  and  in 
open  fields,  the  young  on  the  stony  rise  shown  in  plate  9,  fig.  i. 
These  were  of  a  very  pale  bluish-gray,  the  color  of  the  soil  on  which 
they  lived. 

Tropidolophus  formosus  Say. 
Texas:  Amarillo. 

Two  specimens  were  secured  among  the  Euphorbia  and  other 
coarse  weeds  on  an  old  road-plowing  (pi.  9,  fig.  2). 

Dissosteira  Carolina  Linne. 

Georgia:  Sand  Mountain;  Trenton. 

Alabama:  Anniston;  Cheaha  Mountain;  Lookout  Mountain;  (McCalla,  juv. 

4) ;  Valley  Head. 

Mississippi:   (Hattiesburg,  juv.  4)  ;  Meridian. 
Arkansas:    Blue    Mountain    Station;    Dardanelle;    Fayetteville ;    Magazine 

Mountain;    Mena;    Ola;    Rich    Mountain;    Rich    Mountain    Station; 

Winslow. 

Indian  Territory:  Caddo;  Haileyville;  Howe;  South  McAlester. 
Texas:   Amarillo;   Clarendon;   Denison. 
Oklahoma:  Cache;  Mountain  Park;  Shawnee;  Snyder. 

This  very  common  and  widely  distributed  species  was  met  with 
at  practically  every  locality  visited,  inhabiting  roadsides,  waste  places, 
and  all  spots  of  bare  ground,  in  city  or  country  alike. 

Dissosteira  longipennis  Thomas. 

Texas:  Amarillo;  Clarendon;  Wichita  Falls. 
Oklahoma:  Mountain  Park. 

Very  common  on  the  arid  plains,  associating  with  Trimerotropis 
latifasdata,  Spharagemon  aequale,  and  its  relative  Carolina  on  roadsides 
and  other  exposed  soil  surfaces.  It  is  distinctly  warier  and  takes 
longer  flights,  consequently  is  more  difficult  to  capture,  than  Carolina. 

Spharagemon  aequale  Say. 

Texas:  Amarillo;  Clarendon;  Quanah;  Wichita  Falls. 
Oklahoma:  Cache;  Mountain  Park;  base  of  Mount  Sheridan. 

This  large  and  strikingly  handsome  species  is  very  common  on 
bare  soil  on  the  arid  plains,  whirring  up  from  the  roadside  in  numbers 
in  company  with  species  of  Trimerotropis ,  Hadrotettixy  and  Dissosteira. 
Active  and  wary,  however,  either  strategy  or  plentiful  exercise  is 
necessary  to  secure  it  in  series.  Examples  are  frequently  met  with 
having  the  metazona  white,  presenting  a  conspicuous  collared  pattern 
of  marking. 


FURTHER  RESEARCHES  ON   NORTH  AMERICAN  ACRIDIID^.  37 

Spharagemon  bolli  Scudder. 
Georgia:   Sand  Mountain. 

Alabama:  Cheaha  Mountain;  Lookout  Mountain;  Turnipseed's  Ranch. 
Mississippi:  Meridian. 
Arkansas:   Ashdown;   Blue   Mountain   Station;  DeQueen;   Eagleton;   Fay- 

etteville;    Magazine    Mountain;    Mena;    Ola;    Rich    Mountain;    Rich 

Mountain  Station;  Winslow. 
Indian  Territory:  Caddo;  Haileyville;  Howe. 
Texas:  Bonita;  Denison. 
Oklahoma:  Mount  Sheridan,  at  base  and  near  summit,  among  woods. 

This  species  is  one  of  the  few  sylvan  geophilous  locusts,  its  dis- 
tribution coinciding  with  that  of  dry  woodlands,  in  which  it  is  usually 
associated,  in  the  region  under  discussion,  with  Melanoplus  keekri  and 
robustus  or  their  varieties.  In  the  Northern  States  it  frequents  sandy 
old  fields  as  well  as  the  more  open  woods  and  forest  paths  and  mar- 
gins. It  is  very  widely  and  generally  distributed  in  suitable  localities 
throughout  its  range,  never  becoming  abundant,  even  locally. 

Spharagemon  cristatum  Scudder. 

Texas:  Bonita;   Clarendon;  Quanah;  Wichita  Falls. 

Oklahoma:  Cache;  Mountain  Park;  Shawnee. 

This  is  a  characteristic  ammophilous  species  whose  distribution 
seems  to  be  controlled  by,  or  at  least  coincident  with,  the  presence  of 
areas  of  loose  sand  or  very  light  soil.  In  favorable  spots  it  is  plenti- 
ful and  easily  secured. 

Scirtetica  picta  Scudder. 
Mississippi:  Gulf  port. 

Common  along  the  upper  part  of  the  sea-beach  and  on  open  sandy 
spots  not  far  inland.  In  the  specimens  secured  the  dusky  wing-bands 
are  narrower  than  in  typical  picta. 

TRACHYRHACHIS  (MESTOBREGMA). 

Reference  has  been  made  in  the  introductory  pages  to  the  variation 
presented  by  the  material  secured  in  this  genus,  representing  four  or 
more  so-called  species  varying  in  wing-coloration  geographically  and 
presenting  a  complete  gradation  from  a  wing  with  hyaline  base  and 
vitreous  apex  to  one  with  bright  lemon -yellow  disk,  crossed  by  a 
broad  fuscous  band. 

Trachyrhachis  thomasi  Caudell. 

Arkansas:  Fayetteville ;  Van  Buren. 
Indian  Territory:  Caddo;  Haileyville;  Howe. 
Texas:  Denison;  Quanah;  Wichita  Falls. 
Oklahoma:  Base  of  Mt.  Sheridan. 


38  FURTHER  RESEARCHES  ON   NORTH  AMERICAN  ACRIDIID^. 

Trachyrhachis  fuscifrons  Stal. 

Texas:   Clarendon;  Denison;  Quanah;  Wichita  Falls. 
Oklahoma:  Cache;  Mountain  Park;  Shawnee. 

Trachyrhachis  obliterata  Bruner  (?). 

Texas:  Amarillo;  Clarendon;  Denison;  Quanah;  Wichita  Falls. 
Oklahoma:  Cache;  Mountain  Park. 

Trachyrhachis  kiowa  Thomas. 
Texas:  Amarillo. 
Oklahoma:   Mountain  Park. 

The  following  statements,  together  with  those  on  page  12,  will 
bring  out  the  geographical  character  of  the  variation  presented. 

Amarillo  :  39  specimens.   38  kiowa,  i  obliterata. 

Clarendon  :  5  specimens.  2  obliterata;  3  fuscifrons,  i  with  very 
narrow  wing-band. 

Quanah  :  44  specimens.  20  thomasi;  15  fuscifrons  grading  per- 
fectly into  thomasi;  7  obliterata,  grading  toward  fuscifrons  in  showing 
traces  of  wing-band;  2  with  disk  hyaline  and  wing-band  obsolescent 
or  of  medium  width. 

Wichita  Falls  :  23  specimens.  4  obliterata;  i  with  disk  hyaline 
and  wing-band  broad,  nearly  complete;  16  fuscifrons  grading  toward 
thomasi,  chiefly  with  wing-band  broad  in  posterior  part,  but  broken 
behind  radial  shoot,  which  is  often  faint. 

Mountain  Park  :  6  specimens.  2  kiowa;  3  obliterata  ;  i  fuscifrons 
with  very  faint  wing-band. 

Shawnee  :   i  specimen.     Like  last. 

Cache:  3  specimens.     2  obliterata;  i  fuscifrons  with  pallid  disk. 

Base  of  Mt.  Sheridan  :   i  thomasi,  varying  toward  fuscifrons. 

Caddo,  i;  Haileyville,  19;  Howe,  25;  Van  Buren,  9;  Fayette- 
ville,  30,  all  thomasi. 

Specimens  of  Trachyrhachis  are  very  common  and  generally  dis- 
tributed on  drier  grounds  of  prairies  and  plains,  especially  in  the 
vicinity  of  bare  spots,  ant-fields,  etc.,  among  the  mesquite  and  other 
low  grasses. 
Metator  pardalinus  Saussure. 

Texas:  Amarillo. 

One  male. 

Psinidia  fcnestralis  Serville. 

Mississippi:  Biloxi;  Gulfport;  Hattiesburg;  Nugent. 
Texas:  Bonita;  Clarendon. 

An  ammophilous  species,  widely  distributed  but  very  local,  found 
only  upon  areas  of  loose  sand. 


FURTHER  RESEARCHES  ON   NORTH  AMERICAN  ACRIDIID^.  39 

Trimerotropis  bruneri  McNeill. 
Texas:  Clarendon. 
One  male,  referred  to  this  species  with  some  doubt. 

Trimerotropis  citrina  Scudder. 
Georgia:  Trenton. 

Alabama:  Anniston,  Turnipseed's  Ranch;  Tuscaloosa. 
Mississippi:  Gulfport  (juv.  5);  Hattiesburg;  Meridian;  Nugent. 
Louisiana:  Milneburg. 
Arkansas:  Ashdown;  Blue  Mountain  Station;  Dardanelle;  Eagleton;  Mena; 

Rich  Mountain  Station;  Van  Buren;  Winslow. 
Indian  Territory:  Haileyville;  Howe. 
Texas:  Amarillo;  Bonita;  Clarendon;  Wichita  Falls. 
Oklahoma:  Cache;  Mountain  Park;  Shawnee;  Snyder. 

This  is  a  very  widely  distributed  species,  of  common  occurrence 
throughout  the  Southern  States  from  the  seashore  to  a  considerable 
elevation,  frequenting,  in  company  with  Dissosteira  Carolina,  roadsides 
and  other  spots  bare  of  vegetation.  Its  coloring  varies  greatly  accord- 
ing to  the  tint  of  the  soil  of  its  background,  from  dull  white,  through 
shades  of  yellowish  and  reddish  brown,  to  a  dull  gray. 

Trimerotropis  latifasciata  Scudder. 

Texas:  Amarillo;  Clarendon;  Quanah;  Wichita  Falls. 
Oklahoma:  Cache;  Mountain  Park. 

This  seldom-recorded  species  proves  to  be  plentiful  in  northwest- 
ern Texas  and  Oklahoma,  where  it  is  found  in  abundance,  associated 
with  Spharagemon  aequale,  etc.,  on  roadsides  and  bare  spots,  flying  up 
in  numbers  before  the  feet  of  the  traveler.     It  is  a  conspicuous  insect 
in  flight,  with  its  broad,  black  wing-band,  but  is  not  so  shy,  nor  is  its 
flight  so  prolonged,  as  that  of  aequale ,  which  it  greatly  outnumbers. 
Trimerotropis  modesta  Bruner. 
Texas:  Clarendon. 

One  male,  referred  to  this  species  with  considerable  doubt. 

Trimerotropis  saxatilis  McNeill. 
Georgia:  Sand  Mountain. 

Arkansas:  Dardanelle;   Magazine  Mountain;  Winslow. 
Indian  Territory:  Haileyville. 
Oklahoma:  Mountain  Park;  summit  of  Mount  Sheridan. 

This  is  one  of  the  most  interesting  locusts  met  with  on  the  trip. 
Though  a  near  relative  of  vinculata,  which  is  an  inhabitant  of  road- 
sides and  waste  places,  so  closely  allied  to  it  as  to  be  confused  there- 
with except  by  one  thoroughly  acquainted  with  both  species  and  their 
habits,  this  species  is  apparently  purely  saxicolous.  Recorded  from 
southern  Illinois  and  northwestern  Arkansas  by  McNeill,  in  1903  I 
found  it  on  Stone  Mountain,  north  central  Georgia,  and  Sand  Moun- 


40  FURTHER  RESEARCHES  ON   NORTH  AMERICAN  ACRIDIID^. 

tain,  in  the  extreme  northwestern  corner  of  that  State.  The  past 
season  I  traced  it  westward  into  Indian  Territory  and  Oklahoma, 
finding  it  in  similar  rocky  habitats.  Specimens  from  Georgia  and 
Oklahoma  differ  so  greatly  in  size,  prominence  of  eyes,  and  other 
minor  characters  that  they  would  be  separated  as  distinct  species  but 
for  the  intergrades  from  Indian  Territory  and  Arkansas.  Oklahoma 
examples  are  especially  liable  to  be  mistaken  for  vinculata,  but  the  two 
species  can  readily  be  distinguished  in  habitus,  habitat,  and  habits. 

Saxatilis\i.2&  been  taken  only  on  rock-surfaces,  sometimes  lichen- 
crusted,  sometimes  bare  and  sun-scorched,  either  wholly  unprotected 
from  sun  and  storm  or  amid  a  considerable  growth  of  forest  which  has 
sprung  up  since  the  station  was  colonized  by  the  locust.  Georgia 
habitats  are  shown  in  my  first  report  (Publication  No.  18,  Carnegie 
Institution  of  Washington,  pi.  2,  figs.  1,2).  In  Arkansas  it  was  com- 
mon on  Dardanelle  Rock,  on  the  rim  rock  at  the  edge  of  the  summit 
cliff  of  Magazine  Mountain  (pi.  4,  fig.  i),  and  at  Wheeler's  Fall  at 
Winslow.  At  Haileyville,  Indian  Territory,  a  few  specimens  were 
secured  on  the  summit  outcrops  of  rocky  ridges  covered  with  deciduous 
trees.  In  Oklahoma  it  was  taken  at  Mountain  Park  on  the  rock  slopes 
of  an  outlying  spur  of  the  Wichita  Mountains  (pi.  7,  fig.  2)  and  on  the 
ledges  and  boulders  on  the  summit  of  Mount  Sheridan  (pi.  9,  fig.  i). 

In  color  and  markings  it  so  closely  resembles  the  background  of 
its  habitat  as  to  be  indistinguishable  therefrom  when  at  rest.  Five 
specimens  are  shown  in  plate  i,  fig.  2,  and  all  would  be  practically 
invisible  but  for  the  shadows  cast  by  the  late  afternoon  sun  at  the  time 
the  photograph  was  taken.  The  ground  coloration  varies  enormously, 
in  correspondence  with  the  background,  from  deep  fuscous,  ranging 
through  various  shades  of  brown  and  gray  to  nearly  white.  In  the 
Wichita  Mountains  it  matches  the  flesh-color  of  the  weathered  granite. 
The  fuscous  markings  are  usually  strong,  contrasting  greatly  with  the 
ground-color  if  that  is  pale,  but  aiding  in  concealment  on  the  mottled 
background. 

It  is  a  sluggish,  unsuspicious  species,  flying  but  a  short  distance 
when  disturbed,  often  with  a  distinct  but  relatively  faint  crepitation, 
and  is  easily  captured.  In  the  past  season  specimens  were  first  met  on 
Sand  Mountain,  Georgia,  July  8.  At  this  time  adults  of  both  sexes 
were  numerous,  the  males  actively  searching  for  and  attentive  to  the 
females,  excitedly  approaching  them  and  fiddling  with  rapid  vertical 
movements  of  the  closed  hind  legs,  ranging  in  extent  from  5°  to  50° 
(sometimes  even  90°).  Usually  no  sound  was  audible  (to  me)  during 
this  act  of  stridulation,  but  occasionally  I  could  catch  a  distinct  and 
rather  pleasant  ''seep,"  resembling  a  bird-note  at  a  distance  rather 


FURTHER  RESEARCHES  ON   NORTH  AMERICAN  ACRIDIIDJg.  4! 

than  the  note  of  an  insect.     The  female  made  similar  motions,  but 
less  often  and  less  energetically. 

When  driven  upon  a  background  at  variance  in  color  with  their 
own,  no  uneasiness  was  exhibited,  but  after  a  time  they  crawled  away. 
Active  in  direct  sunshine,  they  became  sluggish  when  clouds  obscured 
the  sun,  and  at  this  time  were  very  easy  to  approach,  allowing  the  hand 
to  come  within  2  or  3  inches  if  it  were  advanced  with  caution . 

Trimcrotropis  vinculata  Scudder. 

Texas:  Amarillo;  Clarendon;  Wichita  Falls. 

A  common  species  on  the  arid  plains  and  westward.     It  is  much 
less  conspicuous  in  flight  than  its  associates,  Spharagemon  aequale, 
Trimerotropis  latifasciata ,  and  Hadrotettix  trifasciatus,  owing  to  its  nar- 
rower wing-band,  less  deeply  colored  disks,  and  smaller  size. 
Hadrotettix  trifasciatus  Say. 

Indian  Territory:  Caddo  Hill;  South  McAlester. 

Texas:  Quanah;  Wichita  Falls. 

Oklahoma:  Mountain  Park;  base  of  Mount  Sheridan. 

This  handsome  locust  is  one  of  the  largest  and  most  striking 
species  of  the  section  of  country  examined.  Owing  to  its  wariness 
and  powerful  flight  it  is  a  difficult  insect  to  capture  in  numbers,  though 
it  is  not  uncommon  locally  on  bare  or  thinly  grassed  soil,  along  roads, 
about  washes  and  excavations,  and  in  stony  ground.  At  Caddo  Hill 
one  of  its  stations  was  in  an  open  woodland,  but  it  is  typically  a  crea- 
ture of  the  treeless  plains  (pi.  5,  fig.  i  ;  pi.  6,  fig.  i). 
Brachystola  magna  Girard. 

Texas:  Amarillo;  Quanah. 

Oklahoma:  Cache. 

A  huge  and  sluggish  species,  not  uncommon  locally  on  sun- 
flowers and  other  tall  weeds,  clambering  clumsily  about  or  resting 
quietly  when  undisturbed.  Specimens  kept  alive  over  night  were 
observed  to  stridulate,  apparently  by  elevating  the  tegmina  and  beat- 
ing the  wings  against  them.  (Cf.  Dictyophorus  reticulatus .)  Both  sexes 
did  this,  but  the  sound  produced  by  the  female  was  much  the  fainter. 

Though  commonly  ranked  as  a  geophilous  desert  species,  in  habits 
and  in  the  structure  of  the  tarsi  this  is  a  purely  phytophilous  locust. 
The  form  of  the  vertex  of  the  head  ;  the  variable,  but  often  distinct 
and  sometimes  conspicuous  prosternal  spine ;  the  presence  of  the  ter- 
minal spine  of  the  outer  row  of  the  hind  tibiae ;  the  form  of  the  hind 
femora,  and  of  the  subgenital  plate  of  the  male;  the  texture  of  the 
surface  of  the  body  ;  as  well  as  the  highly  developed  pulvilli  and  phy- 
tophilous habit  of  life — all  seem  to  indicate  the  possibility  of  a  closer 
kinship  with  the  Acridiinse  than  with  the  Oedipodinse. 


42  FURTHER  RESEARCHES  ON  NORTH  AMERICAN  ACRIDIID^. 

ACRIDHNAE. 

Dictyophorus  rcticulatus  Thunberg. 

Georgia:   (Trenton,  juv.  4,  5). 

Alabama:    (Turnipseed's  Ranch,  near  Cheaha  Mountain,  juv.  5). 

Mississippi:  Hattiesburg. 

Louisiana:  Milneburg. 

These  elephantine  locusts,  locally  known  as  ' '  devil -horses, ' '  were 
found  in  numbers  resting  upon  the  tall,  coarse  weeds  at  the  side  of  the 
road  through  the  swamp  at  Milneburg;  at  Hattiesburg  a  single  adult 
was  found  in  bottomland  forest ;  and  several  immature  specimens  were 
taken  among  weeds  in  a  mowing-lot  at  Trenton,  Georgia,  at  an  eleva- 
tion of  730  feet,  much  farther  northward  than  had  been  expected. 

When  disturbed  the  tegmina  are  often  elevated  and  the  brilliant 
carmine  wings  rapidly  vibrated,  producing  a  buzzing  noise.  If  taken 
in  hand,  a  disagreeable,  dark-brown,  frothy  liquid  is  effused  with  a 
hissing  sound  from  the  mesothoracic  spiracles,  which  probably  is 
repugnatory  in  function. 

Leptysma  marginicollis  Serville. 

Mississippi:  Biloxi;  Gulfport;    (Nugent,  juv.  2,  3,  4). 
Louisiana:  (Buras,  juv.  4,  5) ;  Milneburg. 
Texas:   (Wichita  Falls,  juv.  i,  2,  3,  5). 

Common  locally  in  the  rush  and  sedge  plant-societies  of  the 
margins  of  streams  and  ponds. 

Schistocerca  albolineata  Thomas. 

Texas:  Wichita  Falls. 

A  single  pair  among  tall  grass  and  shrubbery  on  the  bank  of  a 
slough. 

Schistoccrca  alutacea  Harris. 
Alabama:  Cheaha  Mountain. 
Mississippi:  Gulfport. 
Arkansas:  Eagleton;  Fayetteville ;  Mena;   Rich   Mountain  Station. 

Of  this  species  or  form  a  few  scattering  examples  were  taken  (see 
remarks  under  rubigiiwsa). 

Schistoccrca  rubiginosa  Harris-Scudder. 
Mississippi:  Nugent. 
Arkansas:  Magazine  Mountain. 
Indian  Territory:  Caddo. 
Texas:  Bonita. 
Oklahoma:  Shawnee. 


FURTHER  RESEARCHES  ON   NORTH  AMERICAN  ACRIDIUX&  43 

A  dozen  examples  of  this  form  were  taken.  Neither  this  nor  the 
preceding  were  secured  in  sufficient  series  to  enable  satisfactory  con- 
clusions regarding  the  relation  of  the  two  forms  in  the  territory  under 
examination  to  be  formulated  (see  remarks  following  5.  obscurd). 

Schistocerca  americana  Drury. 
Georgia:  Trenton. 
Alabama:  Valley  Head. 
Mississippi:  Gulf  port;  Nugent. 
Louisiana:   Franklin. 

Arkansas:  Dardanelle;  Fayetteville ;  Rich  Mountain;  Van  Buren;  Winslow. 
Indian  Territory:  Caddo;  Wilburton. 
Texas:  Denison;  Wichita  Falls. 
Oklahoma:  Cache;  Shawnee. 

The  data  given  above  refer  to  actual  captures.  This  species  is 
one  of  the  most  ubiquitous  locusts  of  the  Southern  States,  and  was 
either  seen  or  secured  at  practically  every  point  visited.  Although 
very  plentiful  in  places,  at  no  point  was  it  met  with  in  seriously 
destructive  numbers. 

Schistocerca  lineata  Scudder. 
Indian  Territory:  Caddo. 
Texas:  Clarendon. 
Oklahoma:  Cache;  base  of  Mount  Sheridan. 

Locally  plentiful,  varying  much  in  color  of  hind  tibiae,  which  are 
sometimes  infuscated  throughout,  on  the  basal  two-thirds  alone,  or 
even  luteous  with  only  the  spines  black-tipped. 

It  is  usually  found  among  the  sunflowers  and  other  coarse  weeds 
along  gullies,  roadsides,  and  fences. 

Schistocerca  obscura  Fabricius. 
Mississippi:  Hattiesburg. 
Louisiana:   Franklin;  Milneburg. 
Arkansas:  Ashdown. 
Indian  Territory:  Caddo. 
Texas:  Denison;  Wichita  Falls. 

This  is  a  robust,  dark-colored  species,  which  is  common  and 
widely  distributed  through  the  Southern  States,  usually  occurring  in 
coarse  weeds  and  grasses  in  swamps  and  along  streams.* 

Much  work  remains  to  be  done  upon  this  genus  in  the  way  of 
careful  collecting  and  observation,  securing  large  series,  before  any- 

*This  species  was  accidentally  included  under  the  head  of  alutacea  in  my 
first  report  (Publication  No.  18,  Carnegie  Institution  of  Washington).  All  of 
the  specimens  there  reported  from  Savannah  and  Tybee  Island,  and  a  part  of 
those  from  Carrabelle,  belong  to  this  species. 


44  FURTHER  RESEARCHES  ON   NORTH  AMERICAN  ACRIDIIM. 

thing  definite  will  be  known  regarding  the  relations  of  the  different 
forms  to  which  the  rank  of  species  is  usually  applied.  It  is  very 
probable  that  some  so-called  species  are  but  forms  of  one  which  varies 
greatly  in  color  and  structure.  In  New  England  the  two  forms  known 
as  alutacea  and  rubiginosa  seem  to  be  constantly  different  structurally, 
though  rubiginosa  has  a  color- variety  resembling  alutacea.  South- 
ward and  westward  the  structural  gap  between  the  two  seems  to  be 
bridged,  and  both  vary  much  in  size,  color,  form,  and  proportion  of 
parts.  It  is  highly  probable  that  other  groups  of  species  in  this  genus 
present  an  equal  amount  of  variation. 

Hypochlora  alba  Dodge. 
Indian  Territory:  Caddo. 
Texas:  Wichita  Falls. 
Oklahoma:  Cache;  Shawnee;  base  of  Mount  Sheridan. 

Locally  common  on  white  sage  (Artemisia  sp.),  in  color  exactly 
matching  the  greenish -white  tints  of  its  background  (pi.  i,  fig.  i).  It 
prefers  to  escape  observation  by  remaining  quiet,  but  can  leap  well  on 
occasion. 

Campylacantha  olivacca  Scudder. 
Arkansas:  Fayetteville ;  Van  Buren. 

Indian  Territory:  Haileyville;  Howe;  South  McAlester;  Wilburton. 
Texas:  Amarillo;  Clarendon;  Quanah;  Wichita  Falls. 
Oklahoma:  Cache;  Mountain  Park;  Shawnee;  base  of  Mount  Sheridan. 

This  species,  with  its  color- variety  acutipennis,  is  a  widely  distrib- 
uted and  often  locally  very  common  locust,  occurring  among  weeds 
in  fields,  along  fence-rows,  and  woodland  edges.  The  green  form  very 
greatly  outnumbers  the  gray,  though  the  latter  is  by  no  means  uncom- 
mon. It  matures  late,  young  being  common  until  September,  and 
the  adults  even  seem  relatively  soft-bodied  and  usually  discolor  to  a 
dull  brown  in  drying.  It  is  very  sluggish,  relying  upon  its  protective 
coloration,  rather  than  activity,  to  escape  destruction. 

Hcsperotettix  brevipennis  Thomas. 
Georgia:  Sand  Mountain. 
Alabama:  Cheaha  Mountain;  Lookout  Mountain;  Turnipseed's  Ranch. 

This  is  the  eastern  representative,  a  near  relative,  and  probably 
the  direct  descendant  of  H.  pratensis.  Three  males  and  a  female  were 
captured.  Of  these  a  male  from  Sand  Mountain  presents  an  interest- 
ing structural  variation  in  the  doubling  of  the  subapical  tubercle  of 
the  subgenital  plate  through  a  bifurcation  of  its  tip,  a  shallow  sulcus, 
one-half  as  deep  as  wide,  separating  the  two  apices. 


FURTHER  RESEARCHES  ON   NORTH  AMERICAN  ACRIDIIM.  45 

Hesperotcttix  pratensis  Scudder. 
Arkansas:   Magazine  Mountain. 

Indian  Territory:  Caddo;  South  McAlester;  Wilburton. 
Texas:  Denison. 

This  species  was  quite  common  in  the  grass  and  shrubby  sprouts 
of  the  habitat  shown  in  plate  6,  fig.  2,  at  the  edge  of  the  summit  clifi 
of  Magazine  Mountain,  and  the  specimens  secured  there  are  of  particu- 
lar interest  in  presenting  a  pattern  of  coloration  and  a  degree  of  wing- 
development  intermediate  between  typical  pratensis  and  brempennis . 

Hesperotcttix  speciosus  Scudder. 
Indian  Territory:  Caddo. 

Texas:   Clarendon;    Myra;    Quanah;    Wichita   Falls. 
Oklahoma:  Cache;  Mountain  Park. 

Not  uncommonly  obtained  while  sweeping,  but  seldom  occurring 
-n  numbers .  Decidedly  less  active  than  its  long- winged  relative  viridis . 

Hesperotettix  viridis  Thomas. 
Texas:  Quanah;  Wichita  Falls. 
Very  common  in  one  station  among  weeds. 

Aeoloplus  regalis  Scudder. 
Texas:  Wichita  Falls. 

Plentiful  on  a  weedy  patch  about  a  stone-heap  in  cultivated  ground 
in  company  with  large  numbers  of  Melanoplus  differentialis ,  several 
other  species  of  that  genus,  Hesperotettix,  and  two  species  of  Decticinse. 

Podisma  australis  Morse.* 

Podisma  scudderi.    Psyche,  xm,  120,  1906. 
Podisma  australis.    Psyche,  xiv,  57,  1907. 

Alabama:  Cheaha  Mountain.    One  female. 

"Head  large,  eyes  large  and  prominent,  vertex  very  blunt,  but 
little  protuberant,  in  form  and  proportions  recalling  Dendrotettix. 
Pronotum  robust,  depressed  rather  than  compressed,  especially  at  the 
shoulders;  carina  distinct  on  metazone,  evanescent  on  prozone;  pos- 
terior margin  slightly  convex,  subemarginate;  sutures  deeply  impressed. 
Prosternal  spine  short,  acutely  pointed,  conical  with  excavate  sides. 
Tegmina  ovate-lanceolate,  separated  by  their  own  width,  anterior 
margin  strongly  convex,  posterior  slightly  so,  apex  evenly  rounded. 
Carina  of  the  abdomen  indistinct.  Valves  of  ovipositor  stout,  outer 
margins  finely  dentate  and  strongly  sinuate,  contrasting  markedly  in 

*Owing  to  the  fact  that  in  a  single  instance,  many  years  ago,  Melanoplus 
scudderi  had  been  referred  to  the  genus  Podisma  (Walker,  Cat.  Derm.  Salt. 
Brit.  Mus.,  iv.  718,  1870),  strict  rules  of  nomenclature  seemed  to  render  a  dif- 
ferent name  advisable  for  this  species. 


46  FURTHER  RESEARCHES  ON   NORTH  AMERICAN  ACRIDIID^. 

robustness  with  the  same  organs  in  P.  glacialis  variegata,  from  which 
the  presence  of  tegmina  distinguishes  it  at  a  glance. 

"Color  luteous  beneath;  above  mixed  olive-green,  fuscous,  and 
brown  with  more  or  less  purple  or  cherry-red  on  inner  and  outer  faces 
of  hind  femora.  Feet  greenish;  tibiae  mixed,  strongly  pubescent, 
with  black  spines. 

"Length:  25;  hind  fern.:  12;  pronotum:  5;  tegmina:  4by2.5mm. 

1 '  This  is  a  stout  species,  resembling  Dendrotettix  in  the  form  of  the 
head  and  proportions  of  the  eyes,  and  the  discovery  of  the  male  is 
awaited  with  interest.  The  single  example  secured  was  taken  while 
sweeping  grass  and  shrubbery  in  the  vicinity  of  Pulpit  Rock,  near  the 
summit  of  the  mountain.  Protracted  search  for  a  male  or  additional 
examples  was  unavailing. ' ' 

Paratylotropidia  brunneri  Scudder. 

Arkansas:   Magazine   Mountain;   Mena. 
Indian  Territory:  Caddo  Hill. 

Five  examples  of  this  rare  species  were  captured  among  the 
shrubby  undergrowth  of  dry,  stony  woodlands  (pi.  3,  fig.  2),  and  at  the 
station  shown  in  plate  4,  fig.  2. 

MELANOPLUS. 

For  convenience  of  reference  the  species  01  this  extensive  genus 
are  here  arranged  alphabetically. 

Melanoplus  atlanis  Riley. 

Georgia:  Sand  Mountain;  Trenton. 

Alabama:  Anniston;  Lookout  Mountain;  Valley  Head. 

Mississippi:  Hattiesburg. 

Louisiana:  Franklin. 

Arkansas:    Blue    Mountain    Station;    Dardanelle;     Fayetteville ;     Magazine 

Mountain ;   Mena ;   Ola ;   Rich  Mountain ;  Van  Buren. 
Indian  Territory:  Caddo;  Caddo  Hill;  Howe. 
Texas:  Bonita;   Denison;  Myra;  Quanah;  Wichita  Falls. 
Oklahoma:  Cache;  Mountain  Park;  Shawnee. 

This  is  a  common  species,  often  locally  abundant,  frequenting 
dry,  grassy  fields.  While  not  met  with  in  such  numbers  as  to  be  seri- 
ously injurious,  it  was  very  plentiful  on  the  abandoned  farms  on  the 
summit  of  Rich  Mountain. 

Melanoplus  bispmosus  Scudder. 
Arkansas:  Ashdown;  Van  Buren. 

Indian  Territory:  Caddo  Hill;  South  McAlester;  Wilburton. 
Texas:   Clarendon;  Denison;  Quanah;   St.  Jo;  Wichita  Falls. 
Oklahoma:  Cache;  Shawnee;  base  and  summit  of  Mount  Sheridan. 

A  very  common  and  widely  distributed  campestrian  species. 


FURTHER  RESEARCHES  ON    NORTH   AMERICAN   ACRIDIID^.  47 

Melanoplus  bivittatus  Say. 

Indian  Territory:  Caddo;  Wilburton. 

Texas:  Denison. 

Oklahoma:   Cache;  base  of  Mount   Sheridan;   Snyder. 

Common  locally  in  the  herbage  of  moist  meadows,  about  springs, 
along  ditches  and  streams. 

Melanoplus  bivittatus  femoratus  Burmeister. 
Georgia:  Sand  Mountain. 
Alabama:  Cheaha  Mountain. 

The  specimens  secured  are  markedly  different  in  color  from  north- 
ern examples ;  the  olivaceous  tinge  so  common  in  northern  specimens 
is  entirely  lacking ;  the  general  coloration  is  a  brownish  fuscous 
above,  luteous  beneath.  The  hind  tibise  are  red,  more  or  less — some- 
times strongly — infuscated  on  the  basal  half;  and  the  hind  femora  show 
the  strong  fuscous  longitudinal  stripe  of  the  glaucous -legged  form. 

Melanoplus  differentialis  uhler. 

Louisiana :  Franklin. 

Arkansas:  Fayetteville. 

Indian  Territory:  Caddo;  Howe. 

Texas:  Amarillo;  Clarendon;  Denison;  Quanah;  Wichita  Falls. 

Oklahoma:  Cache;  Mountain  Park;  Shawnee;  base  of  Mount  Sheridan. 

L,ocally  common,  often  abundant  and  destructive,  among  coarse 
grasses  and  weeds  in  waste  places.  Very  widely  but  erratically 
distributed. 

Melanoplus  discolor  Scudder. 
Texas:  Amarillo. 
Three  males  and  two  females  among  tall  grasses  on  the  plains. 

Melanoplus  fasciatus   Barnston-Walker. 
Alabama:  Cheaha  Mountain. 

A  single  male  of  this  boreal  species  was  captured  among  the  xero- 
phytic  vegetation  on  the  summit  of  this,  the  highest  mountain  in  Ala- 
bama. In  this  specimen  the  fuscous  fasciae  of  the  hind  femora  are 
nearly  obsolete.  This  capture  extends  its  range  southward  from  New 
Jersey,  where  it  is  common  in  cranberry  bogs.  A  comparison  of  one 
of  McNeill's  types  of  M.  baconi  in  the  Scudder  collection  demonstrates 
its  identity  with  this  species. 

Melanoplus  femur-rubrum  DeGeer. 

Arkansas:  Dardanelle;  Fayetteville;  Magazine  Mountain ;  Ola ;  Rich  Moun- 
tain; Van  Buren:  Winslow. 

Indian  Territory:  Haileyville;  Howe;  South  McAlester;  Wilburton. 
Texas:  Amarillo;  Clarendon;  Quanah. 
Oklahoma:  Shawnee. 


48  FURTHER  RESEARCHES  ON   NORTH  AMERICAN 

A  widespread  and  locally  plentiful  campestrian  species  inhabiting 
by  preference  moist  fields  and  meadows.  At  Amarillo  red-legged 
examples  were  scarcely  more  numerous  than  those  with  pale  glaucous 
or  bluish  hind  tibiae,  and  similar  specimens  were  common  at  Fayette- 
ville. 

Melanoplus  flavidus  Scudder. 
Texas:  Clarendon. 
A  single  pair.     Campestrian. 

Melanoplus  foedus  Scudder. 
Arkansas:  Dardanelle. 
Texas:  Wichita  Falls. 
Oklahoma:  Shawnee. 

This  species  was  found  among  tall  weeds  and  grasses  along  the 
banks  of  streams  and  flood  channels,  occurring  plentifully  in  the  local- 
ities named.  Specimens  vary  much  in  color  of  hind  legs,  and  appar- 
ently the  species  runs  into  packardi. 

Melanoplus  gflaucipes  Scudder. 
Texas:  Bonita. 
Oklahoma:  Mountain  Park. 

A  sluggish  species,  living  among  bunch-grass  in  arid  stations. 

Melanoplus  gracilis  Bruner. 

Arkansas:  Magazine  Mountain,  2,400  feet. 

This  species  was  detected  but  once,  in  a  cool,  damp  thicket  on 
the  heavily  shaded  northern  side  of  Magazine  Mountain,  almost  within 
the  shadow  of  the  summit  escarpment  (see  p.  18).  Here  it  was  not 
uncommon,  but  very  alert  and  secretive,  seldom  showing  itself,  and 
quick  to  leap  away.  It  should  be  sought  in  similar  stations  through- 
out the  forested  sections  of  Arkansas  and  the  neighboring  States. 

Melanoplus  impiger  Scudder. 
Texas:  Bonita;  Clarendon. 
Oklahoma:  Shawnee. 

In  the  single  male  obtained  at  Shawnee  the  digits  of  the  furcula 
are  exceptionally  long,  very  nearly  one-half  as  long  as  the  supra -anal 
plate,  cylindrical  save  at  base,  and  diverge  in  a  gentle  curve ;  in  the 
other  specimens  secured  they  are  noticeably  flattened  for  half  their 
length  and  less  divergent.  The  color  of  the  hind  tibiae  varies  from 
deep  blue  to  cherry-red. 

At  Bonita  this  locust  was  common  in  the  open  forest  of  oaks  and 
hickories,  of  which  the  Upper  Cross  Timbers  is  largely  made  up,  and 
in  the  open  fields  as  well. 


FURTHER  RESEARCHES  ON   NORTH  AMERICAN  ACRIDIID^.  49 

Melanoplus  impudicus  Scudder. 
Georgia:  Sand  Mountain. 

Alabama:  Cheaha  Mountain;  Lookout  Mountain. 
Mississippi:  Meridian. 

Arkansas:  Blue  Mountain  Station;  Eagleton;  Mena. 
Indian  Territory:  Caddo;  Howe. 

A  widely  distributed  but  somewhat  local  species  frequenting  the 
grasses  of  dry,  open  woodlands  and  sometimes  also  in  fields  of  sandy 
or  stony  soil. 

Melanoplus  keeleri  Thomas. 

Arkansas:  Blue  Mountain  Station;  Fayetteville ;  Magazine  Mountain,  2,000 

to  2,800  feet;  Ola;  Winslow. 
Indian    Territory:    Caddo    Hill;     Haileyville;    Howe;    South     McAlester; 

Wewoka;  Wilburton. 
Texas:  Bonita;  Denison. 
Oklahoma:  Cache;  Mountain  Park;  base  of  Mount  Sheridan. 

As  remarked  by  McNeill  (Psyche,  vin,  366)  it  seems  to  be  impos- 
sible to  draw  any  satisfactory  line  between  the  forms  known  as  keeleri, 
deleter,  and  luridus  in  reference  to  Arkansas  material.  Over  130  ex- 
amples of  this  species  were  secured,  including  several  series  of  a  dozen 
to  twenty  specimens  from  the  same  locality.  These  vary  greatly  in 
the  form  of  the  cerci  among  individuals  from  the  same  place.  In  gen- 
eral, it  may  be  said  that  the  more  southern  examples  approach  more 
nearly  to  the  keeleri  and  deleter  type,  and  the  more  northern  to  the 
luridus  pattern.  Elucidation  of  the  distribution  and  relation  of  these 
forms  will  require  careful  and  systematic  collecting  with  direct  refer- 
ence to  this  particular  problem. 

This  is  a  very  common  species  in  and  near  woodlands,  apparently 
not  occurring  on  the  treeless  plains. 

Melanoplus  lakinus  Scudder. 
Texas:  Amarillo. 

About  a  dozen  short-winged  examples  were  secured  from  tall  grass 
and  weeds. 

Melanoplus  latens  Morse. 

Melanoplus  latens.    Psyche,  xin,  120,  1906. 

Indian  Territory:  Caddo  Hill. 

Six  males,  seven  females. 

To  this  species  I  refer  also  three  females  from  Bonita,  Texas; 
Howe,  Indian  Territory;  and  Magazine  Mountain,  Arkansas. 

"A  short- winged,  red-legged  species  having  much  the  habitus  of 
M.  scudderi  and  occurring  with  it  in  thickets  and  woodlands.  Teg- 
mina  acutely  pointed,  equaling  head  and  pronotum.  Vertex  of  head 


5O  FURTHER  RESEARCHES  ON   NORTH  AMERICAN   ACRIDIID^. 

rather  protuberant.  Midcarina  of  pronotmn  distinct,  equally  developed 
throughout.  Prozona  slightly  inflated.  Hind  tibiae  cherry-red. 

"  Subgenital  plate  of  male  from  above  rounded  apically,  in  side 
view  short,  its  lateral  and  ventral  outlines  nearly  equal,  a  little  ele- 
vated apically.  Furcula  obsolete  or  represented  by  two  small,  rounded 
protuberances.  Last  dorsal  segment  a  little  emarginate.  Cerci  long, 
a  little  surpassing  the  supra-anal  plate,  two  and  a  half  times  or  more 
as  long  as  their  basal  breadth,  nearly  four  times  as  long  as  their  mid- 
dle breadth,  tapering  rapidly  on  basal  fourth,  bent  slightly  upward  at 
this  point,  subequal  or  slightly  expanded  subapically,  tapering  to  a 
rounded,  flattened  apex.  Valves  of  ovipositor  of  female  short,  rather 
blunt,  and  usually  dull-pointed. 

"  Length  :  male,  19-22  ;  female,  27-30.  Hind  femora:  male,  12- 
13;  female,  14.5-16.  Tegmina :  male,  6.5-7;  female,  7-8.5  mm." 

Melanoplus  morsei  Blatchley. 
Mississippi:   Hattiesburg. 

A  single  pair  of  this  species  was  taken  in  woodland  on  sandy, 
river  bottom-land,  in  company  with  M.  viola.  These  are  so  large  that 
measurements  are  appended.  Length:  Male,  22;  female,  28.  Hind 
femora:  Male,  12;  female,  24mm. 

Melanoplus  obovatipennis  Blatchley. 

Arkansas:  Blue  Mountain  Station;  Dardanelle;   Magazine  Mountain;  Ola; 

Rich  Mountain  Station;  Winslow.     (Young  in  several  stages  at  Mena 

and  Rich  Mountain.) 
Indian  Territory:  Howe;  South  McAlester. 

This  is  a  very  common  species  in  xerophytic  upland  forests  in 
Arkansas,  and  probably  much  of  the  territory  of  the  adjoining  States, 
ranging  from  Indiana  to  Texas. 

Melanoplus  packardii  Scudder. 
Indian  Territory:  Wilburton. 

Texas:    Amarillo;    Bonita;    Clarendon;    Quanah;    Wichita   Falls. 
Oklahoma:  Cache;  Mountain  Park;  base  and  summit  of  Mount  Sheridan. 

Common  among  weeds  and  tall  grass,  varying  greatly  in  amount 
of  fuscous  marking  on  pronotum  and  hind  femora,  as  well  as  in  the 
color  of  the  hind  tibiae  (glaucous,  cherry -red,  yellow),  apparently 
running  intofoedus. 

Melanoplus  palmeri  Scudder. 

Texas:  Amarillo;  Clarendon;  Quanah. 
Oklahoma:  Mountain  Park. 

A  very  plentiful  species  among  the  weeds  and  taller  grasses  of  the 
dry  plains.  Fresh  specimens,  with  their  bright  blue  or  greenish  hind 


FURTHER  RESEARCHES  ON   NORTH  AMERICAN  ACRIDIID^.  5! 

tibiae  and  red  femora,  are  very  attractive.  The  types  of  palmeri  in  the 
Scudder  collection  are  evidently  alcoholic  material  from  which  all 
brilliancy  of  color  had  departed  when  described.  I  have  little  doubt 
that  the  M.  sanguineus  of  Bruner  (Colo.  Agric.  Coll.  Bull.  94,  p.  63) 
is  identical  with  this  species. 

Melanoplus  plebejus  stal. 

Indian  Territory:  Caddo;  Wilburton. 

Texas:  Wichita  Falls. 

This,  while  a  campestrian  species,  is  practically  a  thicket-dweller, 
living  among  the  denser  growth  of  grasses  and  other  herbage  in  moist 
prairie  meadows. 

Melanoplus  propinquus  McNeill-Scudder. 
Mississippi:  Gulf  port. 

Common  in  grassy  areas  of  the  Gulf  Strip  of  the  L,ower  Austral 
coast  plain. 

Melanoplus  regalis  Dodge. 

Texas:  Amarillo;  Quanah. 

This  handsome  species  is  singularly  like  Aeoloplus  regalis  in  ap- 
pearance, nearly  equaling  it  in  size,  closely  resembling  it  in  color  and 
general  form,  but  at  once  distinguished  from  it  by  the  non-tuberculate 
subgenital  plate  of  the  male,  the  dull-pointed  valves  of  the  ovipositor 
of  the  female,  and  the  cherry-red  coloring  of  the  lower  sulcus  and 
inner  face  of  the  hind  femora. 

Three  examples  of  each  sex  were  secured  among  weeds. 

Melanoplus  robustus  Scudder. 

Arkansas:  Blue  Mountain  Station;  Dardanelle;  DeQueen;  Eagleton;  Maga- 
zine Mountain;  Mena;  Ola;  Rich  Mountain;  Rich  Mountain  Station; 
Winslow. 

Indian  Territory:  Caddo  Hill;  Haileyville;  Howe;   South  McAlester. 

Texas:  Denison. 

Oklahoma:  Cache;  base  and  summit  of  Mount  Sheridan. 

This  robust  species  is  a  characteristic  inhabitant  of  woodlands, 
usually  xerophytic,  where  it  hops  about  among  the  underbrush  with 
vigorous  leaps  (see  pi.  5,  fig.  2).  It  is  very  variable  in  wing-length, 
but  not  dimorphic,  the  tegmina  of  the  male  ranging  from  12  to  21  mm., 
of  the  female  from  13  to  24  mm.;  and  also  in  the  color  of  the  hind 
tibiae,  the  distal  two-fifths  of  which  range  from  pale  yellow  to  bright 
coral-red.  Frequently,  especially  in  examples  with  yellow  tibiae,  all 
infuscation  distad  of  the  basal  pale  annulus  is  lacking  except  on  the 
tips  of  the  spines. 


52  FURTHER  RESEARCHES  ON   NORTH  AMERICAN  ACRIDIID^. 

Melanoplus  scudderi  Uhler. 

Arkansas:    Blue    Mountain    Station;    Dardanelle;    Fayetteville ;    Magazine 

Mountain,   2,000-2,600   feet;    Ola;    Van    Buren;    Winslow. 
Indian  Territory:   Caddo;   Howe;   South   McAlester;   Wilburton. 
Texas:  Myra. 
Oklahoma:  Cache;  Shawnee;  base  and  near  summit  of  Mount  Sheridan. 

A  locally  common,  even  abundant,  and  very  widely  distributed 
species,  found  in  a  considerable  variety  of  habitats,  either  in  shrub- 
bery, edges  of  woodlands,  near  thickets,  or  even  grasslands. 

"Two  males  from  Bonita,  Texas,  which  I  refer  to  this  species 
with  some  doubt,  possess  exceptionally  broad  cerci,  the  depth  nearly 
or  quite  equaling  the  length,  the  lower  margin  very  strongly  convex. 
To  this  form  I  have  provisionally  applied  the  name  latus"  (Psyche, 
xin,  122,  1906.) 

Melanoplus  strumosus  Morse. 
Georgia:  Sand  Mountain. 
Alabama:  Lookout  Mountain. 

This  species,  discovered  in  Florida  and  South  Carolina  on  the  first 
trip,  proves  to  be  more  widely  distributed  than  was  thought  at  that 
time,  reaching  the  Upper  Austral  zone  and  an  altitude  of  1,600  feet  or 
more.  At  Sand  Mountain  it  was  not  uncommon  among  the  under- 
growth of  shrubs  and  herbage  in  the  forests;  at  this  time  (July  8)  the 
young  greatly  outnumbered  the  adults. 

Melanoplus  tepidus  Morse. 

Melanoplus  tepidus.    Psyche,  xin,  121,  1906. 

Mississippi:  Meridian.  Three  males,  three  females. 
"This  species  most  closely  approximates  M.  obovatipennis ,  agree- 
ing with  it  in  size  and  general  coloration,  but  may  be  distinguished 
from  it  by  the  following  characters :  The  subgenital  plate  of  the  male 
feebly  but  distinctly  tuberculate  subapically ;  the  upper  valves  of  the 
ovipositor  of  the  female  narrower  at  base  in  side  view ;  the  pronotum 
is  more  elongate  and  slightly  inflated,  its  sides  and  top  slightly  convex 
instead  of  straight,  its  lateral  lobes  less  deep,  and  the  longitudinal 
fuscous  stripe  thereon  broader  anteriorly,  of  nearly  equal  width 
throughout,  covering  one-half  or  more  of  their  depth;  the  tegmina 
are  slightly  more  elongate,  the  eyes  of  the  male  are  large  and  very 
prominent,  and  the  vertex  of  the  head  narrower,  more  prominent,  and 
rather  deeply  sulcate." 

Melanoplus  tribuloides  Morse. 

Melanoplus  tribuloides.    Psyche,  xin,  121,  1906. 

Alabama:  Cheaha  Mountain;  Turnipseed's  Ranch. 


FURTHER  RESEARCHES  ON   NORTH  AMERICAN  ACRIDIID^.  53 

' '  Similar  to  M.  tribulus,  but  with  the  digits  of  the  furcula  much 
wider  and  longer,  flattened,  from  enlarged  bases,  in  length  equaling 
or  exceeding  the  middle  breadth  of  the  cerci ;  the  cerci  narrower  in 
the  middle. " 

Melanoplus  tuberculatus  Morse. 

Melanoplus  tuberculatus.    Psyche,  xm,  121,  1906. 

Texas:  Quanah;  Wichita  Falls. 

"A  rather  small,  inconspicuous  species,  long-winged,  flavescent 
brown  in  color,  with  unspotted  tegmina,  faintly  barred  hind  femora, 
and  very  pale  yellowish-green  hind  tibiae.  Fuscous  stripe  of  the  lateral 
lobes  of  the  pronotum  restricted  to  the  prozona,  brownish,  sometimes 
obsolete.  Subgenital  plate  of  the  male  seen  from  above  smoothly 
rounded  posteriorly,  its  ventral  outline  from  the  side  smoothly  convex, 
terminating  posteriorly  in  an  upwardly  directed,  acute,  subapical 
tubercle,  the  lateral  margins  ampliate  at  base.  Last  dorsal  segment 
of  abdomen  of  male  emarginate  at  origin  of  furcula,  the  latter  con- 
sisting of  a  pair  of  short,  triangular,  flattened  processes  from  expanded 
bases  on  the  segment,  scarcely  as  long  as  the  segment,  parallel,  and 
widely  separated.  Cerci  short,  but  little  longer  than  their  basal  width, 
wide  and  very  stout  at  base,  tapering  rapidly,  the  apical  half  subequal, 
tapering  to  a  rounded  apex,  bent  strongly  upward  and  inward,  the 
apex  flattened  and  a  little  reflexed.  Tegmina  a  little  surpassing  (male) 
or  about  reaching  (female)  the  hind  knees. 

"Body:  male,  18-22;  female,  19-27.  Tegmina:  male,  14-18; 
female,  16-19.  Hind  femora  :  male,  11-12;  female,  13-15  mm." 

Phoetaliotes  nebrascensis  Thomas. 

Indian   Territory:   Caddo;   Wilburton. 

Texas:   Amarillo;   Clarendon. 

Oklahoma:   Cache;  base  of  Mount  Sheridan. 

A  common  campestrian  species  among  the  dense  grass  of  the 
plains  and  prairies.  The  young  are  often  largely  dull  ivory-white  in 
color  and  present  a  very  singular  appearance  with  their  absurdly  large 
heads.  It  matures  late;  the  young  in  various  stages  were  met  with 
at  Caddo  on  August  8,  and  were  still  plentiful  at  Wilburton  three 
weeks  later. 

Paroxya  atlantica  Scudder. 

Mississippi:  Biloxi  (juv.  4,  5)  ;  Gulfport  (juv.  5)  ;  Nugent  (juv.  3,  4,  5). 
Common  in  the  piney- woods  of  the  Gulf  Strip  of  the  Coastal  Plain, 
especially  in  grassy  places  among  the  inkberry  or  myrtle  shrubbery 
(Ilex  glabra),  and  also  in  swampy  spots  and  sometimes  in  the  salt- 
marshes  (pi.  2,  fig.  2). 


54  FURTHER  RESEARCHES  ON   NORTH  AMERICAN  ACRIDIID^. 

Paroxya  floridiana  Thomas. 

Mississippi:  Biloxi;  Nugent  (juv.  5). 
Louisiana:  Buras  (juv.  5 — probably  this  species). 

This  locust  inhabits  the  tall,  upright  growth  of  rushes  and  other 
water-plants  at  the  edges  of  the  marshes,  ponds,  and  tidal  inlets,  and  is 
found  at  some  distance  inland  in  wet  meadows. 

A  single  female  of  this  genus,  not  identifiable  with  certainty,  but 
belonging  either  to  this  species  or  the  next,  was  taken  at  Ashdown, 
Arkansas.  Prolonged  search  for  the  male  or  additional  examples 
was  unavailing. 

Paroxya  hoosieri  Blatchley. 
Louisiana:   Milneburg. 

A  single  very  large  male  was  captured  at  the  edge  of  the  swamp. 
Its  measurements  are  as  follows:  Length,  26;  hind  femora,  16; 
tegmina,  12;  antenna,  17;  pronotum,  5.5  mm. 

Dactylotum  pictum  Thomas. 
Texas:  Quanah. 
Oklahoma:    Mountain   Park. 

About  30  specimens  of  this  gaily  decorated  species  were  secured. 
These  were  found  crawling  sluggishly  about  in  the  mesquite  grass  of 
the  dry  prairies,  and  made  little  effort  to  escape  when  disturbed. 
Oddly  enough,  though  brightly  colored  and  strikingly  marked,  this 
locust  is  by  no  means  conspicuous  on  its  natural  background,  and 
readily  escapes  notice,  except  at  very  close  range  or  while  in  motion. 


AC  R  I  D  I  I 


PLATE:    1 


FIG.  i.— White  sage  (Artemisia  sp.)  habitat  of  Hypochlora  alba.    Wichita  Falls,  Texas. 


FIG.  2.—Trimerotropis  Maxatilis—Evc  examples  on  lichened  rock  surface. 
Sand  Mountain  .Georgia. 

ILLUSTRATING  PROTECTIVE  COLORATION. 


AC  R  I  D  I  I 


PLATE:  2 


FIG.  i. — Swampy  spot  in  piiie  woods  at  Nugent,  Mississippi.     Habitat  of  Leptysma 
marginicollis,  Mermiria  bivittata,  Clinocephalus  elegans. 


FIG.  2. — Habitat  of  Paroxya  atlantica  at  Biloxi,  Mississippi.     (Flight-ox  log-team 
returning  inland  with  feed.) 

COAST  PINJE  BE)VT  OF  MISSISSIPPI. 


ACRI  Dl  I  D/E 


PLATE     3 


FIG.  i.— Campestrian  habitat  of  Melanoplus  femur -rubrum  and  M.  atlanis  on 
abandoned  farm  on  summit  of  Rich  Mountain,  Arkansas. 


FIG.  2.—  Xerophy  tic  forest  habitat  of  So'opedon  auriventris,  Paratylotropidia  brunneri, 
Melanoplus  scudderi,  M.  robustus,  and  M.  obovatipennis  on  southeast  exposure  of 
foothills  of  Rich  Mountain,  Mena,  Arkansas. 

ARKANSAS  MOUNTAIN  HABITATS. 


ACRI  Dl  I  DSEL 


PLATE 


FIG.  i.— Escarpment  rim  ledge  habitat  of  Trimerotropis  saxatilis,  Magazine  Mountain, 
Arkansas.     (I,ooking  northwest  over  Arkansas  River  Valley.) 


FIG.  2.— Marginal  thicket  at  west  end  of  summit  of  Magazine  Mountain. 
ARKANSAS  MOUNTAIN  HABITATS. 


FIG.  i.— Roadsides.  Habitat  of  Spharagemon  aequale,  Trimerotropis  latifasciala, 
T.citrina,  T.  vinculata,  Hadrotettlx  trifasciatus,  Dissosteira  spp.,  and  Hippiscus 
spp.  Wichita  Falls,  Texas. 


FIG.  2.— Fields.    Mesquite  grass  ;  Euphorbia  and  ragweed.    Habitat  of  Opeia  obscura,  Amphi- 
tornus  bicolor,  Phlibottroma  quadrimaculaium,  etc.    Wichita  Falls,  Texas. 


PRAIRIE-PLAINS  HABITATS. 


ACRIDIID/E:  PLATE 


FIG.  i.— Stony  ground.    Habitat  of  Leprus  wheeleri  and  Hadrotetlix  trifasciatus. 

Quanah,  Texas. 


FIG.  2. — The  t,lano  IJstacado  at  Amarillo,  Texas.    Weeds  on  old  road-plowing. 
PRAIRIE-PLAINS  AND  PLAINS  HABITATS. 


FIG.  i. — Prairie-plains  and  outlying  rocky  spur  of  Wichita  Mountains  at  Mountain  Park, 

Oklahoma. 


FIG.  2.— View  on  spur  shown  in  fig.  i.    Bunch-grass  and  ledge  habitats. 
Mermiria  spp.,  and  Trimerotropis  saxatilis. 

WICHITA  MOUNTAIN  DISTRICT. 


AC  R  I  D  1  I  O/EL 


PLATE: 


FIG.  i. — Mount  Sheridan,  from  the  east  base.    Field,  forest,  and  ledge  habitats. 
(Also  in  the  following  three  views.) 


FIG.  2.— Mount  Sheridan,  from  the  north. 
WICHITA  MOUNTAIN  DISTRICT. 


ACRI  Dl  I  DSE. 


PLATE: 


FIG.  i. — Summit  of  Mount  Sheridan,  looking  east  to  Mount  Scott. 


FIG.  2.— Summit  of  Mount  Sheridan,  looking  northwest. 
WICHITA  MOUNTAIN  DISTRICT. 


Morse,  A. P. 


J.    kjv^    .        «*•.*•! 

Further  researoho 


Unacc. 


a  on 


North  American  AcridiicU.e 


OL508 

A2M6 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


